REV. JOHN A. SEDLAK Pastor/Trust Administrator

jsedlak@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Mass Schedule Weekday & Sat. Morning: 8:00 am Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm Sunday: 9:00 & 11:00 am Holy Days: As Announced

Sacrament of Reconciliation Weekday & Sat. Morning: 7:30-7:50 am Saturday Vigil: 4:00-4:45 pm Sunday: 8:30-8:45 am & 10:30-10:45 am

(30 minutes before all other Masses)

Office Hours Monday-Thursday: 8:15 am - 3:45 pm

Mailing Address PO Box 187 4263 Route 981 United PA 15689

Website www.saintflorian.org

Phone Numbers Parish Office/Rectory: 724-423-4431 FAX: 724-423-4438 Pastoral Emergencies: 412-582-0425 Catechesis, Faith Formation & Evangelization (CFFE) Office: 724-423-5087 Preschool: 724-423-4437 Social Hall: 724-423-9008 St. Vincent de Paul Helpline: 724-205-4406

Staff CFFE Director: Dr. Joseph Dreliszak Preschool Director: Lottie Hirak Preschool Aide: Karen Dlugos Music Director: Steven Makar Parish Secretary and Bookkeeper: Angela Reese

Pastoral Council Terry Foriska Tammy Sofranko* Mike Reese Nicole Stull Don Scekeres Dave Shimko *Recorder

Finance Council John Boggess Kathy Sobinsky Stephanie Soflak Jerry Yasher David Lazor* Emily Uhrin Mark D’Amico *Chair

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME July 5, 2020

PARISH MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to build up the Kingdom of God by offering ourselves

with Jesus for the true good of every person.

EUCHARISTIC SELF-OFFERING PRAYER I am all Yours, O most loving Jesus, through Mary, Your Mother.

MASS INTENTIONS (Request Form on back of bulletin)

Sat., July 4 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Sun., July 5 9:00 AM Mon., July 6 8:00 AM Tue., July 7 8:00 AM Wed., July 8 8:00 AM Thu., July 9 8:00 AM Fri., July 10 8:00 AM Sat., July 11 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Sun., July 12 9:00 AM

Weekday +Agnes Lesko by Son +Michael Mizikar Jr. by Wife & Children Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time For the Parishioners Weekday +Sue Baird by Karen, Ed, Megan & Erik Weekday +Loretta Rutkowski by Jack Wilder Weekday +Cornelius Schachte by Wife, Helen Schachte Weekday +John Toczek by Louise Coolie Weekday +Teddy Lodato by Donald & Emma Staszel St. Benedict +Mary E. Zimmerman by Terry & Janice Frederick For the Parishioners Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time +Frank Tracy by Children & Grandchildren

Page 2 July 5, 2020

ST. FLORIAN OFFERTORY STEWARDSHIP:

Due to an early bulletin deadline, last week’s offertory donations will be reported in next week’s bulletin.

Bulletin Deadline: submissions for the bulletin are due by Monday at 9 am to: areese@dioceseofgreensburg.org.

Readings for the week of July 5, 2020 Sunday: Zec 9:9-10/Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14 [cf. 1]/Rom 8:9, 11-13/Mt 11:25-30 Monday: Hos 2:16, 17b-18, 21-22/Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 [8a]/Mt 9:18-26 Tuesday: Hos 8:4-7, 11-13/Ps 115:3-4, 5-6, 7ab-8, 9-10 [9a]/Mt 9:32-38 Wednesday: Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12/Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 [4b]/Mt 10:1-7 Thursday: Hos 11:1-4, 8e-9/Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16 [4b]/Mt 10:7-15 Friday: Hos 14:2-10/Ps 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14 and 17 [17b]/Mt 10:16-23 Saturday: Is 6:1-8/Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 [1a]/Mt 10:24-33 Next Sunday: Is 55:10-11/Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 [Lk 8:8]/ Rom 8:18-23/Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9 ©Liturgical Publications Inc.

ALTAR FLOWERS are presented this week

In Memory of

Joseph Yanok By Helen Yanok

Sanctuary Light In Memory of

Brother, Joe and Sisters, Loretta and Irene By: Sister Dodie & Tom

COVID-19 PANDEMIC — information can be found at www.coronavirus.gov

CHURCH OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER 7 DAYS A WEEK 7 AM TO 7 PM

MINISTRY SCHEDULE

Please consult the ministry schedule that was given out at the end of June

for Ministry assignments.

The Ministry Schedule will be listed in the bulletin again beginning next week.

Parish Office Summer Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8:15 am to 3: 45

(Angela)

Thursday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

(Dr. Dreliszak)

2 St. Florian Cemetery Graves for Sale — Section 1

Call 724-423-6293

FOOD BANK DONATIONS Please consider donating to the Food Bank donation box in the back of church.

IN JUNE WE ARE COLLECTING DINNER FOODS:

Hamburger Helper, Mac & Cheese etc. (all items must be non-perishables)

All donations stay locally in our community.

Please be sure to place all Food Bank items in or around the Food Bank collection box located next to the candles on the

Sacristy side of the vestibule.

Prayer Chain

Those with prayer intentions are asked to contact the FAITH

FORMATION CENTER. Please call 724-423-5087 and your

request will be forwarded to those who have agreed to take part

in this special ministry. New members on our Parish Prayer

Chain are always welcome to join.

Ed Nicholas Becky Betty Paul Fred Bill Anna Karen David Rich Debbie Wanda Jill Ryan Joan Cindy John Laura Milly Katie Charles Sophia Stephanie Mike Karen Mari Jeremy Christine Paul Evelyn Peg Matthew Patty Bob Joe Fr. John All Living and Deceased Dads Peace in the World Those Suffering from the Corona Virus Health and well being of ALL throughout the world

• Please note that due to an earlier deadline for bulletin notices, not all names requested for the week may be printed. However, all intentions and prayer requests will be remembered by those who share in this ministry.

May we continue to remember these

individuals in our daily prayers!

PA CHILDLINE — If you have any suspicion about the

sexual abuse (or any other type of abuse) of a minor child by

anyone — please contact PA Childline immediately at 1-800-

932-0313. If the alleged abuser is functioning in a parish,

school or diocesan position as clergy, religious, paid staff or

volunteer you are also requested to contact the Bishop’s

Delegate for Matters of Sexual Misconduct after you have called

the Childline number and made the report. The Bishop’s

Delegate may be reached at 724-837-0901, Ext. 1221.

Catholic Charities offers virtual counseling

Social distancing can take a toll. So can waiting in line to get

into a grocery or hardware store. It’s not unusual to feel angry,

or frustrated, or confused. For some people, the pandemic

restrictions can magnify feelings of anxiety, depression,

interpersonal conflict, grief and a wide variety of other issues.

Catholic Charities provides virtual counseling to help address

those issues and more. Taking care of your own emotional well-

being is very important to you and the people you love. You

don’t need to face these feelings alone. Call Catholic Charities at

724-837-1840 or email counseling@dioceseofgreensburg.org.

St. Florian Preschool

Now registering for the 2020-2021 School Year. Classes offered for 3 and 4 year olds. Half-day and Full-day options. Contact the Preschool at 724-423-4437 for more information.

Pathways registration open for 2020-21 Registration is open for Pathways, which is the diocese’s

commitment to adult faith formation and nurturing mature dis-

cipleship. There are 12 evening sessions, three workshops and a

closing retreat. Pathways is tentatively scheduled for Tuesdays

from 6:30-9 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Parish, Scottdale. To

register online, go to www.dioceseofgreensburg.org/pathways.

Or email pathways@dioceseofgreensburg.org or call the Office

of Faith, Family and Discipleship at 724-552-2598. Financial

assistance is available from the Francis Fund. For information or

to apply for a scholarship, call 724-837-0901, ext. 1249. The

schedule is tentative, pending restrictions on gatherings

that might be in place in September.

Please Note that due to the concerns related to the ongoing virus…THERE WILL BE NO VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL THIS YEAR FOR CHILDREN PLANNED FOR JUNE AND NO SESSION FOR “OUR SENIORS” PLANNED FOR JULY. We look forward to having these events next year. Many thanks to those who were volunteering their faith and time for this year. May the Lord bless you and your families! Stay well!

ALTAR FLOWERS Please use the form below to donate altar flowers. These can be in memory or honor or just because you like to see the beautiful flowers from Mt. Pleasant Floral enhancing our altar. The cost is $25.00 per vase. For special requests, which can be accommodated but will be

priced accordingly, contact Mary Ellen Sopko, 724-423-4337.

ALTAR FLOWER ORDER FORM PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Offered by: ______________________________________

Phone:___________________

In Memory of:_______________________________________

In Honor of: ________________________________________

Requested date for flowers: __________________________ Donation $25.00/vase (Please include payment with request.)

Connectionsby Joe Lesko

The Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

The passages for this Sunday bring a message of peace to God’s people. The first passage from the prophet Zechariah is a prophecy of Jesus who shall bring peace and an end to war between Judah and her neighbors. Matthew tells of Jesus’ attempts to convert the Galilee area; but in spite of the miracles (signs) He has performed, no conversion to His teachings occurs. He has been ignored and rejected by His own people. In the Ninth Chapter of the Book of Zechariah from which the passage comes, Judah or Jerusalem is beset by warring nations. A battles ensues. God, whose power extends to all nations favors Judah. He as a ruler defends Judah and vanquishes her enemies who try to overtake the favored area for commerce. Zechariah describes a time of joy for the victory to come. His reference to “daughter Zion” refers to the city as well as the hill or mount on which the Temple is built. Zion and Je-rusalem are frequently used interchangeably to refer to the city. Zechariah envisions a king who shall enter the city on a young white donkey. The words to describe or name the animal are confusing “on an ass, on a colt, on the foal of an ass.” They clearly denote a young donkey. The conquering king’s entrance on a donkey in this instance does not indicate humility but indicates peaceful intent of the king. The horse is the animal used in time of war; the ass or donkey is put to use for friendly and solemn entry. The Israelite king choses this more docile animal. Ephriam, as used here, refers to the Northern Kingdom, but it was he who used the donkey in this manner. At one time this area as the largest of the 12 tribes of Israel. The prophet Isaiah, Ezekial and Hosea use the name as a poetic distinction for the area. Zechariah symbolically uses elements of war (chariot, horse, warriors’ bow) to be banished, indicating peace to the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf area. The peaceful and conquering King, aided by God Himself, shall extend far beyond Judah into the rest of the inhabited world. Zechariah’s vision or prophecy point to Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem as a king who shall lead the people to return to His Father. Matthew tells of a disappointed Jesus in prayer to the Father. His own people have rejected and turned away from His message. He has not reached the wise and prudent. His message has been taken by a few disciples who are from the peasant class. He accepts this result of His efforts as the Father’s will. There appears a sense of knowing the Law is an obstacle to accepting and understanding Jesus’ message. The more one has mastered the Law, the more problematic it is to accept that the Messianic messages may overtake the Law. Jesus’ claim of being the exclusive revelation of God in the Law and the prophets is a contradiction to the Jewish claim to be the only possessors to such a claim. Jesus calls all of those who are controlled by the Law. He uses yoke as a metaphor for control. He invites the weary and the burdened for He is one of them. At the moment He is the only one who can proclaim the “Good News” with His interpretation of the Torah. It makes it easier to bear the burden they already possess. He alone is the absolute Son sent by the absolute Father. Zechariah gives a vision or prophecy of one who shall bring peace to Jerusalem and extend the rule of peace to all nations. He does not name Jesus as this peace maker. Matthew presents Jesus as the one sent by the Father to being that peace not only to Jerusalem but to all nations. For it is Jesus who institutes the “Good News” of the Father who is reclaiming His people through His Son, Jesus.

WAYS TO GIVE

During this time of closures throughout the church, please consider keeping up your weekly contributions to

St. Florian. Sunday Masses have resumed but the obligation to attend is still commuted. If you are not attending Mass,

please consider these options for giving.

ONLINE GIVING: Our parish offers Online Giving, a web-based electronic contribution application. This service is safe and secure. And it is convenient for you and for our parish staff. Sign up for Online Giving by visiting our parish website at www.saintflorian.org and selecting the “Donate” link in the top right hand corner.

US MAIL: Contributions can be sent through the mail service to: St. Florian Church

PO Box 187 United, PA 15689

STOP BY THE PARISH OFFICE: The parish office is open Monday—Thursday, 8:45 am to 3:45 pm. Feel free to drop by anytime with your offertory envelope. A locked mailbox is available outside of the Rectory Front Door.

THE ETERNAL WORD

TELEVISION NETWORK (EWTN)

provides high-quality, solid Catholic

programming 24/7 for ongoing faith

formation through Scripture study and

Church teaching, inspirational stories,

prayer, news and commentary, and much

more. Be sure to check it out. (Channel 8 on Citizens Cable). A

favorite of many is The Journey Home on Mondays at 8 pm.

The host is a former Presbyterian minister who has guests from

all backgrounds who in seeking the Truth have become

Catholics with great conviction.

Page 5 July 5, 2020

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK HANDYMAN JOE, Joe Siska, Jr. Please support our sponsors.

PARISH UPDATE We have a long way to go, it appears, before COVID is behind us, but we are progressing. It is heartening to see more and more of you at Mass and Adoration. Perhaps one of the blessings of this pandemic is a greater appreciation for the sublime gift of Our Lord in the Eucharist. THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR VERY GENEROUS ON-GOING WEEKLY SUPPORT of St. Flor ian Par ish

during the COVID-19 restrictions. May Our Lord continue to bless you and your families and our Parish Family as well!

Read Fr. John’s Homily at www.saintflorian.org under the “Parish Life” tab.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION brings special blessings. Consider these words of our Lord re-

counted by a Benedictine priest: “When you come to adoration, put aside every anxiety and care of

yours, and allow the Holy Spirit gently to unite you to the prayer that rises from my Eucharistic Heart

to the Father. Every need of yours in contained in the prayer I offer up to My Father.” (In Sinu Jesu p.

52)

SUMMER FESTIVAL CANCELLED FOR THIS YEAR Due to the ongoing pandemic and the many concerns involving “Social Distancing”, it is necessary to cancel this year’s summer festival that was set for August 9. Parishioners are asked to pick up their raffle tickets in the back of church. Representatives

will be available to help you. You are encouraged to take the tickets of friends and neighbors and other family members who have yet to return to church, but please do not place them in their mailbox. Stubs may returned by placing them in the collection basket or dropped off at the rectory during summer hours. The office is open from Monday – Wednesday from 8:15 – 3:45 and on Thursdays from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Please do not return them by mail. This too is not permitted by the US Postal System.

Thank you for your support. We will be giving periodic updates on the tickets throughout the summer!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS… 2021 FESTIVAL IS SET FOR AUGUST 8!!!

Thank you to The Community Foundation of Fayette County, who have generously donated the extra face masks that we have present for those who need them at Mass.

REGISTRATION & MULTI-PURPOSE FORMS are in the back of the church in the pamphlet

holders by each Holy Water font. These can be used to register at this parish, to inquire about becoming a

Catholic, to volunteer your services here, and to offer a helpful comment or to ask a question. Self-

addressed envelopes are with the forms which can be placed in any collection or mailed to the parish of-

fice. PARISH GIFT ENVELOPES are also available in these same pamphlet holders and on the card ta-

ble by the Campaign Thermometer. These gift envelopes can be used to make a donation to our parish,

pre-school, or cemeteries as a gift to someone for any occasion. A letter will be sent to the person an-

nouncing the parish donation as a gift from you in that person’s name.