Lectors, Ushers and Altar Servers needed at all St. Matthias Parish Churches If you have in the past been served in any of the above positions at one of St. Matthias’s Churches and wish to continue please let us know. Also, Lector and Altar Server teaching sessions for beginners will be offered in the Fall. Please contact us with your name, phone number and email address. St. Ann & St. Marcellus contact Marci at 724-627-7568 or saintannchurch@comcast.net St. Hugh contact Christine at 724-966-7270 or sthugholcpc.@windstream.net St. Ignatius contact Jennifer at jenniferdickerson@windstream.net

Some of you reading this parish bulletin were never bap- tized; some were reared as members of other Christian de- nominations. Some were baptized Catholic, but you were never instructed in the faith. Some may have been attending Mass, at least occasionally with Catholic family members or friends. Perhaps you were once ready to inquire about be- coming Catholic but did not know how to go about it. Is the Lord urging you to learn more? The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process by which one becomes a member of our Catholic faith. The process not only teaches the Doctrine of the Church, but also explores its practices. The first step is the Period of Inquiry which will begin this Fall. This stage is a time for searching, questioning, discussing and reflecting. No decision is required during this Period. The RCIA is designed for those who have never been baptized, those who have no church to call their own, Catholics who have been baptized but have not received Confirmation or Eucharist, whose who would like to come into full communion with the church, Catholics who have strayed from their faith but would now like to be reconnected. To indicate your interest, please contact one of the St. Matthias parish offices: St. Ann, Waynesburg: 724-627-7568 St. Hugh, Carmichaels: 724-966-7270 Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a series of basic instruction in the Catholic faith Class times and dates will be announced later and adjusted to accommodate participants schedules. These classes are also offered as “spiritual enrichment courses” for our Catholic parishioners.

The AUGUST 18TH MASS at 6:30 pm, will be held at the home of Sarah Karg of Aleppo. There will be an evening of socializing and eating following Mass. If you plan on coming bring something to be shared by all present. The parish provides meat and buns. Please RSVP to Marci at 724-627-7568 or Sarah at sarahkarg@windstream.net. Still Available - Wednesday, September 15th at 6:30 pm. To host a Mass, contact Marci at (724-627-7568). We are looking for hosts at various areas of the parish and look forward to these opportunities to celebrate, both spiritually and socially, together.

Fr. Rick Thomspon will be retiring to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Camp and serving as their camp caretaker. Fr. Rick was ordained to the priesthood in 1996 and has had many assignments including: St. Ann (Waynesburg). For six years he was the director of the Newman Club at Waynesburg University and chaplain to Waynesburg Hospital and Greene County Jail. He has a Golden Retriever named “Honey.”

Lately we have had a rash of text, email, and phone call scams requesting donations, especially to buy pre-paid cards for our pastor, Fr. Al. Please be aware that any donation requests for our priests will be done formally through our bulletin or website after being approved by the finance council and according to diocesan guidelines. These guide- lines forbid priests to make personal requests for their own profit. If in doubt, call one of the parish offices to confirm any of these appeals to your generosity.

The Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker was instituted in 1955 by Pope Pius XII and is celebrated on May 1, which corresponds to the day labor is honored in many countries. Saint Joseph, carpenter and foster father of Jesus, is an exemplary model for us. All human labor can be sanctified, which in turn can sanctify oneself and others, making each of the faithful a participant in Christ’s work of redemption. “O God, Creator of all things, who laid down for the human race the law of work, graciously grant that by the example of Saint Joseph and under his patronage we may complete the works you set us to do and attain the rewards you promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal

Join the Diocese of Pittsburgh in May 2021 for To Jesus Through Mary, a month-long focus on deepening devotion to the Blessed Mother. Check out the resources on this page: 1) Learn how we grow closer to Jesus through devotion to Mary, 2) Register for daily Marian inspirations texts in May from Flocknote, 3) Add a Marian flavor to your digital devices! Download Marian wallpaper for your laptop and smartphone. ~ Through May, stay tuned to this page and join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for daily Marian inspirations, prayers, devotions, and video reflections.

Coming Lent 2021 (Ash Wednesday, Feb 17) ~ Sign up now to watch all ten episodes for FREE! Why return to Mass? Our very lives depend on it. It’s the summit of God’s plan for our salvation. It’s time to wake Catholics up to the awesome power, the incredible gift, that is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The alternative is unthinkable. In our latest Journey Through Scripture study, get ready to join host Scott Hahn to uncover how and why all of God’s action, in creation and redemption, is ordered to the Mass.

One in four people will be affected by a mental health problem at some point in their lives, yet the stigma surrounding mental illness silences many and prevents faith communities from responding compassionately and effectively. This eight-session course explores the realities of mental health and illness, as well as the vital need for faith-based community conversations about these topics. The sessions are accompanied by compelling films that feature the stories of Catholics living with mental health challenges, along with the insights of archbishops, theologians, and psychologists.

The next selected title for the FORMED Book Club is Real Philosophy for Real People by Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. In this book, McTeigue gives a funny and invigorating crash course in practical logic, metaphysics, anthropology, and ethics, equipping us with a tool kit for breaking down and evaluating the thought systems—some good, some toxic—that swirl around us, and even within us.Join Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro on Thursday, January 28th for the first discussion. If you have already enrolled in a previous book club, you are all set to receive updates on this book! If this is your first time participating in the club, please enroll.

Join Saint Vincent Parish for Following Christ – a seven-week experience on Tuesdays evenings from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. , January 19 – March 2, on Zoom / online. No cost but registration is required.

Join thousands of Catholics nationwide in the annual Respect Life novena, 9 Days for Life, Thursday, January 21 – Friday, January 29. Get daily intentions, brief reflections, and more. Sign up at 9daysforlife.com!

We are Nancy and Bill Bandzuch. We are the parents of five young children and we live outside of Minneapolis, MN. We direct a ministry for families called Catholic Sprouts. We offer a daily podcast for Catholic families that is downloaded by over 7,000 families worldwide each day. It’s easy to see that Catholic Parents need help passing the Faith on to the next generation. ~ Catholic Parents need a ministry focused on them, willing to train them in their home at the speed of life. Catholic Parents also need a community dedicated to supporting them in the work of building their Domestic Church and raising saints. ~ We will be enrolling families beginning January 1st, into “Domestic Church Project,” and we would love to help renew your families.

The Way, our discipleship forum, is a two-month formation experience for those who have been awakened to a personal relationship with Jesus and are wondering, “what’s next?” In The Way, you will discover how to live as a disciple of Jesus in today’s world. Each cohort has no more than 20 participants. Click on a cohort to enroll. Registration is $35 and includes opportunities for personal engagement in between sessions. Since these cohorts are exclusively online, invite your friends, near and far!

The St. Matthias CCD Program delivered over 200 lbs. of collected food items to the Corner Cupboard, and over 500 lbs. to the Good Neighbor Lunch, right before Thanksgiving. These children do an amazing job, year after year, with this wonderful mission. Thank you to all who helped collect and distribute all the love and hard work from our youth.

Stop binge-watching Tiger King and start watching The Chosen! While it is the largest-ever crowdfunded TV show and free on YouTube or through the app, it is still flying under the radar for most Christians since the first season’s release last year. That’s a shame. It is a masterful, transfixing, faithful yet not low budget or corny new TV drama on the Gospels planned for eight—yes, eight!—seasons.

Ascension’s Bible in a Year Podcast, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz, guides Catholics through the Bible in 365 daily episodes starting January 1st, 2021.

26-day joy-filled digital retreat led by Cardinal-elect Cantalamessa & Chris Stefanick begins November 29th ~ Daily videos and reflections that fit into your busy day; Access the retreat anywhere - on mobile, desktop or tablet; Learn how to have joy, no matter the circumstances of life

The Home Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels) ministry from St. Ann Church is in dire need for volunteers, men or women, to deliver meals starting Friday, October 23. Two of our faithful longtime volunteers are going off the schedule and need replaced. We need help for the 4th Friday. We really need your help to have this special ministry continue. To volunteer call Judy Milinovich at 724-627-3357 or Marci at the parish office, 724-627-7568.

We are all searching for something. Why am I here? Where did I come from? What happens when I die? We find the answers to life’s big questions when we wrestle with them in faith. In fact, the story of human history has largely been a story of faith. We need a relationship with our maker—a relationship with life—to make sense of all of this. Where am I going? Who am I journeying with along the way? The Search is a powerful new digital experience hosted by Chris Stefanick and featuring scientists, astronauts, artists, and fellow searchers who uncover the answers to life’s big questions on happiness, purpose, meaning, and faith. Registering for FORMED is easier than ever: Go to formed.org/signup Select your parish (type "Greene County" to find our parish) Register with your name and email address Check that email account for a link to begin using FORMED