CURRENT BULLETIN

MARCH 30

THANK YOU to all those who made our Easter Celebrations so prayerful and joy-filled: our Adult Choir, Adult Handbell Choir, Cantors, Instrumentalists, and Liturgical Ministers - Lectors, Altar Servers, Ushers and Eucharistic Ministers. Your service to your ministries is greatly appreciated.

Our Boy Scout Troop will be distributing “SCOUTING FOR FOOD” bags after the Masses this weekend for their annual food drive. Local food banks are in great need of non-perishable food items at this time. Especially needed are donations of cereal, peanut butter, jelly, 1 lb. boxes of pasta, spaghetti sauce, juice, and canned fruit. Please fill your bag and return it to church next weekend, April 5 & 6. The scouts will then sort and deliver your donations to the local food bank. Your continued support is much appreciated.
    
BRICK ORDERS for our memorial walkway that have been submitted over the winter will be sent to the brick company to be ready for an early summer installation. If you would like to have a memorial brick included with this grouping, please place your order by May 1. Bricks are $150 with a $50 deposit required with the order. They make great memorials for weddings, Baptisms, 1st Communions, etc. Forms are available at the Hospitality Desk, by calling the office (412-486-6001) or on home page of the parish web site at www.stcatherineofsweden.org.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Fr. Regis, Fr. Nick Pesanka, Fr. Donald Brier, Andrea Andrews, Elizabeth Anthony, Carl Bauer, Robert Becker, Ann Beri, Ronald Bishop, Howard Boyles, Mary Comport, Shyenne Joy Davis, Sis Davis, Janet Fortwangler, the Gerber Family, Eileen Golya, Jessica Grazen, Garrett Green, Mildred Hartman, Patrick Kennedy, Regina Kirschmann, Lois Klinefelter, Matthew Kruth, Teresa LaFever, Natalie Leahy, Paul Marchionna, Linda McDowell, Roni Millstine, Chris Miltenberger, Marlene Meyer, Peggy Novacky, Lee Ruzomberka, John & Maryann Nicotra, Dorothy O’Hanlon, Donald Porter, Greg Saunders, Catherine Snyder, Rosemary Sweeney, Bob Valentic, Fran Valentic, Carol Walzer and Dorothy Zeller.
Please note: We ask those who have requested prayers to give us an “update” call when your loved one is better. Thank you.

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, IS FIRST FRIDAY. There is Anointing of the Sick during the 9:30 am Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Eucharist from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at which time there will be Benediction.
 
Our JOINT FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTION to Our Lady of Fatima begins with the Rosary at 8:30 am followed by 9:00 am Mass on April 5 at St. Richard Church. Our Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima is available to come to your home. Please call (724) 443-1658.
    
Please pray for the newly invested members of St. Catherine’s LADIES OF CHARITY: Mary Weber, Mary Kennedy, Linda Fry and Lori Barch. The ceremony took place on Saturday, March 29, at St. Paul Cathedral with the Most Rev. David A. Zubik as the celebrant. Each year, by their presence in St. Paul Cathedral, the Ladies of Charity demonstrate their commitment to the church and their continuing concern for the needy and elderly of the diocese.
 
The April W & W LUNCHEON will be held at The Great China Buffet in Coventry Square on Route 8, Saturday, April 5, at 1:00 pm. Please call the Parish Office (412-486-6001) by Friday, April 4, if you plan to attend.
           
How Can I Be PRESENT in the MOMENT - Faith In Action! Come for a prayerful opportunity to share and learn how. On Monday, April 14, at 7:00 pm in Room 215, Sister Catherine Higgins, CSJ, LSW will lead us on a journey that begins with the state of our own hearts. Please RSVP to Lori Barch at (412) 486-6001.
             
PRE-BAPTISM CLASS, for parents wishing to have their children baptized, will be held on Sundays, April 6 and May 4. Parents will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 pm in Room 227. A parent class is required before the baptism. Please call to register for one of the classes - (412) 486-6001.
                   
MARRIAGE MOMENTS: On April Fool’s eve think of a way to be playful with your honey tomorrow. It may sound silly but a little prank my husband’s been doing lately is to move a rubber ducky around to different spots in the house and wait for me to notice it. Bringing a smile to your beloved’s face doesn’t take diamonds, just a little creativity. —Susan Vogt

ST. CATHERINE’S PRESCHOOL NEWS: Registration for September 2008 has begun! We offer programs for 3 year old, 4 year old, and 5 year old Pre-K children. Especially helpful, if you have younger children, is our “stay in your car” curbside drop-off and pick-up service. We have moved into our new building with our own private entrance. For details or to schedule a visit, call Katie Morris - (412) 486-6001 or e-mail preschool@stcatherineofsweden.org.
   
The FOREVER YOUNG seniors will head to the “Far East” for an Asian Luncheon at 12:00 noon on Thursday, April 10, in St. Richard Church Hall. Reservations are $7.00 and must be prepaid in the Parish Office by April 7. Please include all names of those attending and make checks payable to John Marshall. If you have any Asian pictures, collectibles, or other items to show, please bring them along!
    
The Hampton-Shaler-Etna Clergy Association (HSECA) SOFTBALL LEAGUE is open to all adults (18+) from St. Catherine of Sweden Parish. All 9-inning games will be played on Sunday afternoons (2:00, 4:00 or 6:00 pm) at Hampton High School. Practice time is available on both April 13 & 20 with our first game tentatively scheduled for April 27. The season ends in mid-August, including playoffs. Player cost is $25 (game jerseys are an additional $25). Interested players, please call the Parish Office at (412) 486-6001.
     
QUILTING GROUP - We are looking for people with a variety of skills for laying out, choosing fabrics, pinning and sewing. You don’t have to be an experienced sewer, just someone looking for a fun gathering for a cause. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month after the 9:30 am Mass in the Church Hall. For details, call Barbara at (724) 444-1009.
         
AUCTION ITEMS ARE NEEDED FOR UPCOMING FUND-RAISING EVENTS! Now is a great time to donate those Christmas gifts that you will never use!! Three upcoming fundraisers, the April Calendar Party, the June Golf Outing and the June St. Anthony Day Italian Festival are all in need of donations for their Silent & Chinese Auctions and Prize Tables. Please bring donations to the Parish Office or the Hospitality Desk. Thank you!
         
The APRIL FOOD ITEM OF THE MONTH for the Food Pantry is Peanut Butter & Jelly. Toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo and bar soap are always needed and appreciated. Please place donations in the box in the Narthex. Thank you.
      
A FAMILY PERSPECTIVE - In today’s gospel Jesus tells us: “As the Father sent me, so I send you.” Become who you are called to be, ambassadors for peace and forgiveness. —Bud Ozar
     
FLOWER DEDICATIONS AVAILABLE - To remember a special occasion or honor a deceased loved one with a flower dedication, church altar arrangements are available for a donation of $100.00 and the four vases at the church and narthex doors are available for $50.00. Your dedication will be published in the church bulletin that weekend. Please call Anne at the Parish Office (412-486-6001) to schedule. Available dates for Altar Flowers: April 6, 27, May 11- Pentecost ($200), May 18-Holy Trinity ($150). Available dates for Four Vases: April 6, 13, 20, May 4, May 11-Pentecost ($80), and 18.

FLOWER DEDICATIONS
The flowers on the altar are donated
this weekend in loving memory of
George and Antoinette Novacky
by The Novacky Family.

The CHRISTIAN WOMEN will meet on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:00 pm in the Church Hall. Please make every effort to attend as there are important options that need to be discussed regarding the future of Christian Women meetings.

HOLY THURSDAY = $2,608.00.
GOOD FRIDAY = $2,607.63.
EASTER = $17,498.00.
OFFERTORY for 03/23/08= $8,041.49.

THE BISHOP WANTS TO MEET WITH YOU! All students in grades 9 - 12 are invited to Bishop Canevin High School on Sunday, April 6, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm for an afternoon of music, prayer & food with our new Bishop! Please R.S.V.P. by Sunday, March 30, if you would like to attend - (412) 486-6001.

The OVERNIGHT LOCK-IN will be Saturday, April 19, beginning at 8:00 pm (doors locked at midnight) to Sunday, April 20 at 8:00 am at Trinity Gymnastics, Route 910, Gibsonia. This annual event is a crazy night of games, food, sports, prayer, more food, movies, a brief and uncomfortable night of sleep, and breakfast. Cost is $10 per high school student with permission slip due by April 17. Permission slips are available on the parish web site under “Youth Ministry.” Please bring a sleeping bag, pillow, comfy clothes, snacks and friends!

A SPRING CRAFT SHOW sponsored by Sharpsburg V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary will be held on Sunday, March 30, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the Bingo Hall located at 1017 Main Street. Along with over 25 crafters, the Auxiliary will hold a Chinese auction and serve food and drinks.

YOUR USED BOOKS CAN CHANGE LIVES! The North Hills Youth Ministry Counseling Center is accepting donations of used books, new books, videos, DVDs, Cassettes and CDs for their annual Used Book Sale June 13 to 18. Please, no magazines, encyclopedias, textbooks or records. Bring your donations to 802 McKnight Park Drive until May 5. If you have questions, call Denise Patsko - (412) 366-1300.
We are pleased to announce the opening of our Kindergarten-Third Grade WESLEY SPECTRUM ELEMENTARY CENTER featuring an academic and therapeutic program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We are located at 5465 William Flynn Highway, Gibsonia. Registrations for the 2008-2009 school year are being accepted. Please call Barbara Lombardo, Director, at (724) 443-4853 with any questions.

HUES & HARMONY - All are welcome to attend as Hampton Township School District celebrates the arts with K-12 student-produced artwork and performances on April 1 (6:00 - 8:30 pm), April 2 and 3 (6:30 - 8:30 pm) at the Hampton Community Center.
       
All FOOD AND FINANCIAL DONATIONS to the North Hills Community Outreach’s food pantries in April will help earn grant money from the Feinstein Foundation’s annual million dollar campaign to fight hunger. All non-perishable items are appreciated, especially cereal, juice, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and rice. For financial donations, mark “Feinstein” on your check memo line and mail to 1975 Ferguson Road, Allison Park, PA 15101. For more details, call Natalie Klaum at (412) 487-6316, option 1, or naklaum@nhco.org.
        
RETROUVAILLE helps couples through difficult times in their marriages. It will give you the opportunity to rediscover each other and examine your lives together in a new and positive way. For confidential information about or to register for the spring program beginning with a weekend on April 4 - 6, call 1-800-470-2230, email 3041@ retrouvaille.org, or visit the web site at www.helpourmarriage.com.
            
Benedictine Center is sponsoring a SUPER BINGO on Saturday, April 5, from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm. Doors will be open at 9:30 am. Early Birds begin at 11:00 am. Admission is $25 ($20 in advance) and includes 1 regular book, 1 special book, and 1 beverage and sandwich. Other prizes and snacks are available. Non-smoking facility. Must be at least 18 years of age. The Bingo benefits the Benedictine Senior Center. For information, call (412) 931-6051.
      
St. Richard Parish, Gibsonia, is once again presenting THE NEW LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR on Tuesday, April 8, at 7:45 pm in the church. It follows the 7:00 pm Mass. The Life in the Spirit Seminars are designed to acquaint the participants with the person and work of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the use of weekly teachings and personal testimonies those attending the seminar have a heightened awareness of the spirit of God working in their personal lives and in the life of the church. By learning to yield to God, they have a greater openness to the fullness of life that the Holy Spirit offers to everyone. Contact Bob Sauers (724-444-6524) for details or to register. Childcare is available.
    
BOOK DISCUSSION, PRAYER AND FAITH SHARING will be held at Kearns Spirituality Center, Allison Park, on Wednesdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 7, 10:30 to 11:30 am. We will discuss, Failing America’s Faithful: How Today’s Churches are Mixing God with Politics and Losing their Way, by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. The former Maryland lieutenant governor discusses the current overlap of religion and politics and challenges us to renew our commitment to be true to our call to peace and justice in our world. The Facilitator is Joan Coultas, CDP, Ph.D. Fee: $20 for series, plus cost of book or $5 per session plus cost of book.
        
FASHION SHOW FUND RAISER, Saturday, April 12, Omni William Penn, Lower Ballroom. Benefit for Little Sisters of the Poor. Auction prizes, Share a Wreath, Fashions by Talbot’s. Doors open at 10:30 am. $30 includes lunch. Respond by April 5. Information, call Ann Young (412-682–3458) or Dee Gallagher (412-628-7132). Parking available in the Mellon garage for $5 a day. Sponsored by Catholic Business and Professional Women’s Association.

DIOCESAN ADULT FAITH FORMATION SERIES - Often Catholics and Christians in general lack imagination about how to bring the Gospel into places that are not specifically “religious.” Dr. Tim Towey, president of St. Vincent College has spent years working on ways to incarnate the love of Christ in policy and politics. He worked for 12 years as legal counsel to Mother Teresa of Calcutta and lived two years in her missions caring for those dying of AIDS. As Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, he sought to apply the lessons learned from Mother Teresa to the problems of America’s poor. Join us for Jim Towey’s presentation, Mother Teresa: Being an Icon of Christ in a World that Needs His Love to be held at St. Paul Seminary Auditorium, Wednesday, April 9, at 7:30 pm. Continuing education credit is available for priests, deacons and catechists. The lecture is free - all are welcome to attend.
      
MORNING OF REFLECTION FOR MOTHERS AND ADULT DAUGHTERS - Saturday, April 12, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center, South Side, Pittsburgh. Offering: $35 for Mother and Daughter; $40 for family (includes 11:00 am brunch). Speakers: Maureen Wood, Mother and Director of the Office of Family Life for the Diocese of Pittsburgh with Beth Wood, Adult Daughter and Middle School Teacher, in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Please pre-register at (412) 381-7676.      

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a nun? The Sisters of St. Joseph are hosting an EXPLORE! gathering for eighth grade and high school girls who would like to learn more about the life of a Sister. EXPLORE! will be held on Sunday, April 13, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm at St. Joseph Convent, Baden. The program will include Liturgy in the Motherhouse Chapel, brunch with the Sisters, a tour of the Motherhouse, sharing stories of the lives, ministries, prayer, and community life of the Sisters, practical questions about the formation of a Sister, and time for questions and sharing. Parents and teachers are also welcome to visit the Convent on this day. There is no fee for this program. For more information or to register, contact Sr. Marquerite Kropinak, CSJ at (724) 869-6585 or visit www.stjoseph-baden.org.
   
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND: April 18 - 20 at the Four Points Sheraton, Findley Township. For more information or to register, contact Mary & Lou Locante at (412) 635-7775 or check us out on the web at www.wwme-pittsburgh.org.

MARCH 23

Thank you so much for the many cards, gifts of money, baked goods, good wishes and everything else that you have blessed me with in the last few days. It is very much appreciated. Please know that your generosity to me is remembered in my prayers for you. Thank you! —Fr. Regis
    
PLEASE NOTE: The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, March 24. Also, there will not be a 9:30 am Mass on Monday, March 24.
            
St. Catherine’s Parish would like to THANK all those who shared their musical talent on the Fridays of Lent during the Musical Reflection preceding Stations of the Cross and Benediction: Lori Barch, solist, Mike Arnold, vocalist, Betsy McCuster, flautist, Barb Braidic, organist, Jim Skalos, organist, and the Adult Handbell Choir. Your participation in our Lenten worship was greatly appreciated.
     

This afternoon, Bishops Zubik, Bradley and Winter will welcome families of the Diocese to their Annual BLESSING OF FAMILIES at St. Paul Cathedral at 3:00 pm. As they greet and bless your family personally, they affirm and support you as a household of love and witnesses to your faith. All families, nuclear, single parent, blended, extended, etc. are invited to come and experience the Bishops’ expression of appreciation for the gift that you are and the gifts that you bring to our Diocese. Each family will receive a special memento and the children will receive a sweet treat.
      
BRICK ORDERS for our memorial walkway that have been submitted over the winter will be sent to the brick company to be ready for an early summer installation. If you would like to have a memorial brick included with this grouping, please place your order by May 1. Bricks are $150 with a $50 deposit required with the order. They make great memorials for weddings, Baptisms, 1st Communions, etc. Forms are available at the Hospitality Desk, by calling the office (412-486-6001) or on home page of the parish web site at www.stcatherineofsweden.org.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Fr. Regis, Fr. Nick Pesanka, Fr. Donald Brier, Andrea Andrews, Elizabeth Anthony, Carl Bauer, Robert Becker, Ann Beri, Howard Boyles, Mary Comport, Shyenne Joy Davis, Sis Davis, Janet Fortwangler, the Gerber Family, Eileen Golya, Jessica Grazen, Garrett Green, Mildred Hartman, Patrick Kennedy, Regina Kirschmann, Lois Klinefelter, Matthew Kruth, Teresa LaFever, Natalie Leahy, Paul Marchionna, Linda McDowell, Roni Millstine, Chris Miltenberger, Marlene Meyer, Peggy Novacky, Lee Ruzomberka, John & Maryann Nicotra, Dorothy O’Hanlon, Donald Porter, Rosemary Sweeney, Bob Valentic, Fran Valentic, Carol Walzer and Dorothy Zeller.
Please note: We ask those who have requested prayers to give us an “update” call when your loved one is better. Thank you.
       
PRE-BAPTISM CLASS, for parents wishing to have their children baptized, will be held on Sundays, April 6 and May 4. Parents will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 pm in Room 227. A parent class is required before the baptism. Please call to register for one of the classes - (412) 486-6001.
        
How Can I Be PRESENT in the MOMENT - Faith In Action! Come for a prayerful opportunity to share and learn how. On Monday, April 14, at 7:00 pm in Room 215, Sister Catherine Higgins, CSJ, LSW will lead us on a journey that begins with the state of our own hearts. Please RSVP to Lori Barch at (412) 486-6001.
    
ST. CATHERINE’S PRESCHOOL NEWS: Registration for September 2008 has begun! We offer programs for 3 year old, 4 year old, and 5 year old Pre-K children. Especially helpful, if you have younger children, is our “stay in your car” curbside drop-off and pick-up service. We have moved into our new building with our own private entrance. For details or to schedule a visit, call Katie Morris - (412) 486-6001 or e-mail preschool@stcatherineofsweden.org.
       
AUCTION ITEMS ARE NEEDED FOR UPCOMING FUND-RAISING EVENTS! Now is a great time to donate those Christmas gifts that you will never use!! Three upcoming fundraisers, the April Calendar Party, the June Golf Outing and the June St. Anthony Day Italian Festival are all in need of donations for their Silent & Chinese Auctions and Prize Tables. Donations can be dropped off in the Parish Office or at the Hospitality Desk. Thank you!
      
FOOD DONATIONS URGENTLY NEEDED! North Hills Community Outreach expects 100-125 families during the next week’s two food pantries in Hampton and Bellevue and barely has enough food to accommodate them. The shortage is attributed to higher numbers of low-income families requesting help this month due to the Easter holiday. We urgently need donations of cereal, peanut butter, jelly, 1 lb. boxes of pasta, spaghetti sauce, juice, canned fruit, and any non-perishable food items. Donations may be dropped off M - F, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at 1975 Ferguson Road, Allison Park. Questions, call Natalie at (412) 487-6316, option 1.
    
A FAMILY PERSPECTIVE - Today’s gospel instructs us Jesus “had to rise from the dead.” The dying we experience with unmet expectations in marriage and parenting is normal to family life. Families must rise about disappointments and be Easter people all year long. —Bud Ozar

THANK YOU - “The Bread of Life Food Pantry in Etna would like to thank the parishioners for donating the Girl Scout cookies they bought to the Bread of Life Food Pantry. The Bread of Life also thanks you for your continuing donations of non-perishable food items in the box in the entrance of St. Catherine’s.” —Marlene Stack
        
MARRIAGE MOMENTS - Rejoice! Whether the time you spend with your spouse is brief, long, or long distance, look at your beloved with fresh eyes. Recognize and remember why you promised to love each other forever. Although you can do this at any time, breaking bread at dinner might be a nice prompt. —Susan Vogt
     
IN GRATITUDE - “How very thoughtful of you and St. Catherine of Sweden Parish to remember the Adrian Dominican Congregation with your gracious gift toward the amount of $7,097.35 from the Mission Appeal of 2007. Many thanks for your generosity and kindness. Your gift will be used for our missions and will help our Sisters in their ministry to the poor and underserved in the Dominican Republic, South Africa and in our country. Thank you so very much for your care and concern for them, and for your support. It will make a difference in the lives of those whom we serve...the St. Catherine of Sweden Community will be remembered in the prayers and Eucharistic Liturgies celebrated at the Motherhouse in Adrian, Michigan. We wish you all of God’s goodness and abundance today and everyday...With much appreciation, Sr. Adrienne Schaffer, OP, Director of Development”

FLOWER DEDICATIONS AVAILABLE - To remember a special occasion or honor a deceased loved one with a flower dedication, church altar arrangements are available for a donation of $100.00 and the four vases at the church and narthex doors are available for $50.00. Your dedication will be published in the church bulletin that weekend. Please call Anne at the Parish Office (412-486-6001) to schedule. Available dates for the Altar Flowers: April 6, 27, May 11 - Pentecost ($200), May 18 - Holy Trinity ($150). Available dates for the Four Vases: March 30, April 6, 13, 20, May 4, May 11 - Pentecost ($80), and May 18.

FLOWER DEDICATIONS
The flowers on the altar are donated
this weekend in loving memory of
Edward and Victoria Jaketic
by their daughter, Bernadette.
The Easter Wreaths are donated
in loving memory of Joseph V. Tesone
from Karen and Alena Tesone,
and in Gratitude for the Support of
Saint Catherine’s Parishioners
to the R.C.I.A. Class of 2008
from Edith Moen, Erin Wagner, Paul Wojnar,
Kristin Peglowski, Christine DeMarco
and Christina Giovannelli

OFFERTORY for 03/16/08 = $12,228.52.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION - The final Jesus Journey for all First Communion Candidates is scheduled for Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29. The children will bake unleavened bread, create a First Communion Memories Box and practice receiving the sacrament. Please remember to bring your baking utensils and a shoebox!
    
C.C.D. NEWS: All C.C.D. Programs resume the regular schedule the week of March 30, 2008.

Rejoice! Our Lord is risen, offering us new joy and hope. By generously giving through OPERATION RICE BOWL, you too are offering hope to the millions who benefit from the work of Catholic Relief Services. Visit www.crs.org to learn more about global solidarity, and to discover how CRS is putting your donations to use. Please remember CRS’ efforts during times of famine or natural disaster. Together, we continue to plant seeds of real hope throughout our world and to foster their growth.

THE BISHOP WANTS TO MEET WITH YOU! All students in grades 9 - 12 are invited to Bishop Canevin High School on Sunday, April 6, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm for an afternoon of music, prayer & food with our new Bishop! Please R.S.V.P. by Sunday, March 30, if you would like to attend - (412) 486-6001.

PAPAL QUOTE: “It is Jesus in fact that you seek when you dream of happiness; he is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; he is the beauty to which you are so attached; it is he who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is he who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is he who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices. The choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be grounded down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal.” —Pope John Paul II

The Fraternity of Priests will be celebrating a MASS FOR HEALING on Wednesday, March 26, at 7:00 pm at St. Bonaventure Church, Mt. Royal Boulevard, Glenshaw. You are invited to come and celebrate the Eucharist with them in this Easter season, expecting the healing presence of the Lord Jesus, as at every Mass, to touch you in all of your needs.

SUPER BINGO is scheduled for Friday, April 4, at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Middle Road, Glenshaw. Advanced tickets are $35 each; $40 at the door. Admission includes 12 cards for regular games and 5 specials. Doors open at 5:30 pm; early birds at 7:00 pm; evening includes 40 regular games (50 points each); 5 specials (100 points each); one jackpot at 500 points and one at 1000 points. All proceeds benefit St. Mary School. Call Coleen (412-486-6622) for details or tickets.
       
UNA FESTA ITALIANA - Saturday, April 5, 8:00 pm to Midnight at Epiphany Church across from Mellon Arena. Lydia’s Place, a nonprofit that helps incarcerated women and their children rebuild their lives, is sponsoring the first Una Festa Italiana. Join us for a hearty Italian dinner, dancing, silent auction and other surprise festivities. Tickets are $50 per person. Please call or e-mail Rosemary McLaughlin at (412) 367-7118 or rosemarymclaugh@gmail.com.
      
Assumption Parish School SPRING GALA will be held in the Great Hall in West View on Saturday, April 19, 6:30 to 11:30 pm. The cost is $65 per person or $520 for a table of eight and includes appetizers, buffet dinner, dessert, beverages (beer & wine) and entertainment. An auction is also included. For more information, contact Alisa Scioscia at (412) 287-5378. Deadline for tickets is Monday, March 31.
 
St. Mary’s Church in Cecil, PA is offering a 9-night cruise “AUTUMN IN QUEBEC AND NOVA SCOTIA” departing on September 11, 2008 aboard the Explorer of the Seas (Royal Caribbean). Prices start at $1,021.27 per person (double occupancy). Round-trip bus transportation to Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ will be provided from the church parking lot for an additional charge. If interested, please call Mary Ann at (412) 221-1560.

St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Glenshaw is hosting a HAWAIIAN LUAU event on Saturday, April 12, at 7:00 pm. Delicious Hawaiian food and authentic entertainment will be the highlights, along with a silent auction, gift shop and more. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. Call (412) 486-4100 ext. 409 for information and tickets. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: There is a critical need to increase the awareness of the devastating effect that domestic violence has on families in our community. Crisis Center North asks you to consider the immediate need for volunteers. Our Spring Volunteer Training is scheduled for April 1 - May 20 in the North Hills on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, with the option of Saturday make-up classes. This 44-hour training is state mandated by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV). We hope you will consider this opportunity and call Glenn Sauer, Volunteer Coordinator if you have any questions or wish to get involved at (412) 364-6728.
     
STRESS IN YOUR MARRIAGE? Retrouvaille is a program for married couples who feel bored, disillusioned, frustrated, or angry in their marriage. Some experience coldness. Others experience conflict in their relationships. Most don’t know how to change the situation or even communicate with their spouses about it. This program has helped tens of thousands of couples experiencing difficulties in their marriages. For confidential information about or to register for the spring program beginning with a weekend on April 4-6, call 1-800-470-2230, e-mail to 3041@retrouvaille.org or visit our web site at www.helpourmarriage.com.
 
The Gilmary Center, 601 Flaugherty Run Road, Coraopolis, celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Apparitions at Lourdes, will host a special viewing of the 1991 film THE PASSION OF BERNADETTE, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm on Sunday, April 6. All are invited. Call (412) 264-8400 for additional information.
     
Orion Adult Day Services’ OPEN HOUSE, Sunday, March 30, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, 4361 Route 8, Allison Park (former Craighead Building). All are welcome. In addition, volunteers are needed, full & part time, come play with us; free lunch included. For informartion, please call Suzie DeVore at (412) 337-6731.
         
Many RETREAT OPPORTUNITIES are available at Paul VI Pastoral Center, Wheeling, WV where Fr. David Nestler, OFM, Cap. is currently ministering. Information is available on their web site at www.paulvi.org.