Is God Calling You? Are You Listening?

“Bishop Wuerl has put out a call for a class of men to be ordained for the service of the Church of Pittsburgh as deacons.” I read that statement in the Pittsburgh Catholic in the early summer of 1994. I had often thought that  I could be a deacon. I had exposure to several of the deacons from the 1974 class and I was enthralled with what they were doing within the Church. Of course, a former pastor had told me that I should be a deacon if the bishop ever calls for another class, so my mind began to ponder the possibility that maybe I should at least look into this “call”.

In the Pittsburgh Catholic May 2nd edition, Bishop Zubik has issued a new call for a new class of men to be ordained as deacons for the Church of Pittsburgh. Could he be the voice of God calling you to ministry in this Church Alive in Pittsburgh? Have you ever thought about another vocation in your life? Could you make a difference in this Church in which we have membership? If you have ever had any thoughts about ministry, I urge you think seriously and pray even more seriously about looking into this call. Please feel free to see me or Father Kevin and we will gladly sit and talk with you and your family about the “call”. If you have questions, don’t be shy in asking them.

There are, of course, some guidelines to be considered. Men, married or single, between the ages of 35 and 60, who have a willingness to serve, who are in good standing within the church, are men who should consider this call. There would be a course of study that would required, and there is a need to make a commitment to faithfully fulfill all the requirements of the program. Any candidate for the program must have a recommendation from his pastor. Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2014. Are you interested? Are you being called?

I answered yes to both of those questions and my life has never been more blessed. I have been blessed to serve while I am being served by my faith and my God. Over the next few weeks, I will write about my journey and how I came to answer the call.

Graduation Blessing

Dear Lord,

The life that you have given us has many stages. Please bless these young people today, as they leave one stage of life and begin another. Guide them as they finish this chapter in the story you have written for them, and begin a new one, written on a fresh page. Help them to make the right choices, Lord. May they always remember that past choices need not sully a bright future, nor good choices in the past ensure that tomorrow will be carefree and easy. Most of all remind them, Lord, that no one’s story is fully lived unless you are allowed to be its one, true author by those who live it.

Amen.

What is Eucharistic Adoration?

Spending time before the Blessed Sacrament in prayer and devotion is exactly the same as spending time before the Living God. Adoration occurs whenever someone is in front of the tabernacle that contains the Blessed Sacrament. We honor the true presence by genuflecting toward the tabernacle, as well as bowing before we receive our Lord in the Eucharist.

Adoration also can occur when the priest or deacon removes the Sacred Host from the tabernacle (held within the Luna) and placed on the altar in the Monstrance for a period of time. With Lent approaching, Saint Angela Parish would like to have more  opportunities for the faithful for Eucharistic Adoration. The church asks that during the times that the Eucharist is on the Altar for Adoration that our Lord is not alone but rather that someone is present in prayer! Would you consider spending 20 or 30 minutes with our Lord? We will be having sign up sheets for Holy Hour on Wednesday evenings (6 to 7PM) and the Friday Eucharist Adoration from 9:30 to 11:30AM.