In celebration we are planning a 6:30 pm evening Mass at St. Hugh Church, inviting all of you to stay afterwards for a cookout, hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks to be provided. Mass will be outside on the back porch allowing people to bring lawn chairs or sit in their cars. The FM 87.9 broadcast will be up and running for as many as we get. We need some idea of attendance to plan for food and drinks and are asking you to contact one of the parish offices with “number of persons” planning to attend. Remember in 2020, we were deep into Covid-19 restrictions at this time of year and hopefully we can celebrate a happier season this year. Hope to see you there! RSVP TO: St. Ann, (724)627-7568 or [email protected] St. Hugh, (724) 966-7270 or [email protected]

The Acts of the Apostles (1:15-26) tells us that Matthias was chosen after the resurrection to replace Judas. Peter, quoting a psalm, told the 120 people gathered that they must choose a new apostle: someone who had been with them from the time of the baptism of the Lord until the resurrection, someone who could join them in bearing witness to these events. Two names were put forward and the assembly casts lots, the lot falling to Matthias. Nothing more is known of his life or apostolic work.

~ According to one tradition, Saint Matthias preached for a time in Jerusalem and eventually he was stoned and beheaded. (He is often portrayed holding an axe, the instument of his death.) Another tradition claims he preached the Gospel to the barbarians and cannibals in the interior of Ethiopia and was crucified.

Saint Matthias is the patron of carpenters, tailors, those with smallpox, and in prayers for perseverence and for hope.

O God, who assigned Saint Matthias
a place in the college of Apostles,
grant us, through his intercession,
that rejoicing at how your love
has been allotted to us,
we may merit to be numbered
among the elect.

Amen.

(From Roman Missal Collect
for Feast of Saint Matthias)