ADMINISTRATOR, Rev. Joseph R. Grosko PRINCIPAL, ST. AGNES SCHOOL

Sister Cynthia Wessel ..............................412-466-6238

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Rectory - St. Agnes …………………..... 412-466-2655 Rectory - Holy Trinity … ....................... 412-466-6545 Social Hall - St. Agnes ......................... .. 412-466-5500 Social Hall - Holy Trinity……………... 412-466-9695 St. Agnes Convent ……………… ........ . 412-466-3554 St. Agnes Website………..…….. www.stagneswm.com Holy Trinity E-mail Address …... H.TRINITY@VERIZON.NET

NOVENA TO MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP MONDAYS AFTER THE 8:00 A.M. MASS AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

EPHESIANS IV — PRAYER & PRAISE ON MONDAYS AT 7:30 PM IN ST. AGNES CHURCH

EVERYONE IS INVITED AND WELCOME

Holy Trinity Church

Saint Agnes Church &

St. Agnes Administrative Center 622 St. Agnes Lane • West Mifflin, PA 15122-2925

Holy Trinity Administrative Center 529 Grant Avenue Ext. • West Mifflin, PA 15122-3830

December 5, 2010 Second Sunday of Advent

ST. AGNES MASS INTENTIONS

SUN - DECEMBER 5 - 2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 6:00p (Sat) - Joseph Squires (M/M Glad Squires) 8:00 - - Margaret Balest (Sue Finnegan) 11:00 - - Steven Bogacik (Hazel Berry) MONDAY - DECEMBER 6 - ST. NICHOLAS (8:00 - - Mass at Holy Trinity) TUESDAY - DECEMBER 7 - ST. AMBROSE 6:45 - - Bob Gepert - Anniversary (Irene Slezak) 7:00p (anticipated) - - Margaret Soska (Daughter, Linda) WED-DEC 8- IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF BVM 9:15 - - Patrick Risha (Family) 7:00p- - Halko/Sorokacs Fam’s (Michael/Mary Sorokacs) THURSDAY - DECEMBER 9 - ST. JUAN DIEGO 6:45 - - Andy Slezak - Anniversary (Irene Slezak) FRIDAY - DECEMBER 10 - ADVENT WEEKDAY 8:15 - - Nancy Jackson (Eleanor Mitrik) SATURDAY- DECEMBER 11 - ST. DAMASUS I (8:00 - - Mass at Holy Trinity) SUN - DECEMBER 12 - 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 6:00p (Sat) - Deceased Members of Baker Family 8:00 - - Alice Stanicar (Ellen and Joel Dobas) 11:00 - - Dec’d of Finnegan/Clemens Fam’s (Sue/Virginia)

HOLY TRINITY MASS INTENTIONS

SUN –DECEMBER 5 - 2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 4:00p (Sat) - Robert Schorr (Eileen and Linda Schorr) 9:30 - - Michael Fedor Sr. (M/M Joseph Sikora) MONDAY - DECEMBER 6 - ST. NICHOLAS 8:00 - - John Kovalcin (Elaine Opatik) TUESDAY - DECEMBER 7 - ST. AMBROSE 11:00 - - Living and Deceased Members of Holy Trinity 4:00 p (anticipated) - - Robert Schorr (Waugerman Fam) WED-DEC 8- IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF BVM 8:00 - - Mary Wasilisin (Elvera Lauris)

THURSDAY - DECEMBER 9 - ST. JUAN DIEGO (6:45 - - Mass at St. Agnes) FRIDAY - DECEMBER 10 - ADVENT WEEKDAY (8:15 - - Mass at St. Agnes) SATURDAY - DECEMBER 11 - ST. DAMASUS I 8:00 - - David Robiinson (Mom and Dad) SUN –DECEMBER 12 - 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 4:00p (Sat) - Regis Hock (Son, Richard) 9:30 - - Martin Krupinski (Scahill Family)

HOLY DAY MASSES: As scheduled.

RECONCILIATION: Saturdays at 5:30 p.m., St. Agnes and

Holy Trinity, Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. (or by appt.)

BAPTISM: By appointment. Pre-Baptism preparation

required. Arrange before birth.

MARRIAGE: Arrange 6 months in advance.

SICK & SHUTINS: Please call the Rectory.

NEW PARISHIONERS: Please register at Rectory.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT When we experience suffering in our lives, we may be tempted to despair. As we observe the endless conflicts between people everywhere, we may feel hopeless. Yet we are reminded in the first reading today that a new day is coming, a day bringing harmony and peace. We may rejoice that the earth will be filled

with the glorious knowledge of the Lord, then “the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid.” Indeed, this new day has already begun. The second reading continues this hopeful theme, encouraging us to “think in harmony” and glorify God “with one voice.” The Lord empowers us to be free, to live in unity and perfect harmony, start-ing today. Finally, we hear John the Baptist beseeching us: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Imagine him eating locusts and wild honey in the desert, baptizing people in the Jordan River, & shouting, “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.”

— MARK YOUR CALENDAR — Tuesday, December 7th….DAY OF RECOLLECTION, Fr. Litavec, 9:00 a.m., Holy Trinity

Wed, December 8th….FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION , Holy Day

Thurs, December 9th….45 PLUS CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY, noon, Skyview, Ed Ferchak, 462-0904

Sat, December 11th….HOLY TRINITY MEN’S CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY, George Miteff, 466-5062

Sunday, December 12th….TRADITIONAL “VILIJA” CHRISTMAS MEAL, Holy Trinity, 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 14th….ST. AGNES SCHOOL CONCERT

Wed, December 15th….ST. AGNES PENANCE SERVICE, 7:00 p.m.

Thurs, December 16th….HOLY TRINITY PENANCE SERVICE, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, December 17th….ST. AGNES SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, 7:00 p.m.

Traditional “Vilija” Christmas Meal...The Slovak Cultural Committee of McKeesport and West Mifflin will host a traditional Slovak Christmas dinner, “Vilija”, on Sunday, Dec. 12th at 2:00 p.m., Holy Trinity Social Hall. Reservations are required and must be made by Monday, December 6th. Special entertainment will be provided for the afternoon. Please call Irene A. Benyak, SCN, at 412-751-1673 or Holy Trinity, 412-466-6545. The cost is $15.00/adults; $8.00/children under 12 years.

Day of Recollection, Tuesday, December 7th Father Edward Litavec, our beloved and well-known preacher, will give a Day of Recollection for the parishes of St. Agnes and Holy Trinity. His theme for the “Day” will be “Advent Preparation for the Nativity of our Lord.” The day will begin at Holy Trinity Church at 9:00 a.m. with an opening confer-ence and then the opportunity for confession and the celebration of the Eucharist. A luncheon will conclude the Day of Recollection with a Question and Answer forum. Let us give ourselves some spiritual time in the midst of the rush of the holidays and better prepare ourselves for the Birth of Christ by your attendance.

— Please call or inform by mail your intentions of joining us for the Day of Recollection. —

St. Agnes Blood Drive, NEXT SUNDAY, December 12, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Call Josephine Andres, 412-466-9055.

ST. AGNES SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS — COME AND ENJOY!! KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 3….Saturday, Dec. 18th, 7:00 p.m., “Bossy Christmas Fairy”, Social Hall.

GRADES 4 THROUGH 8 ……….……...... Friday, December 17th, 7:00 p.m., “Fear Not”, Social Hall.

— DONUT SUNDAY AT ST. AGNES WILL ONLY BE AFTER THE 8:00 A.M. MASS THIS WEEK —

Feast of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, Wednesday, December 8th The Blessed Virgin Mary was destined, from the moment of her conception, to be the bearer of the Eternal Word. As Mary was the vessel that carried the Savior of the world, may we, too, be vessels that carry the message of the gospel to all we meet.

We will gather on Wednesday, the Feast Day, December 8th, at Holy Trinity, 8:00 a.m. and at St. Agnes, 9:15 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to give praise and glory to God for the gift of the Lord Jesus. —The anticipated Masses will be on Tuesday, December 7th: Holy Trinity at 4:00 p.m. and St. Agnes at 7:00 p.m.

“OPLATKE”—HOLY BREAD. DELICATE, ORNATE, FESTIVE, BELOVED—the Christmas wafer commemo-rates a custom which is centuries old. Oplatke, from Latin, “Oblatum,” Holy Bread, is “Our Christmas Oblation(sm).” Believed by some to emanate as far back as the “manna” of Exodus 16:31, it is sometimes referred to as the Bread of Angels. Through our beloved Christmas wafer tradition, we are reminded of the Holy Nativity. We remember our Lord, Jesus Christ, was born in Bethlehem, literally the “house of bread”. We hallow His proclamation: “I am the Bread of Life.”

On sale after all the weekend Masses or call Parish Office. Offering $2.00 - 1/2 dozen or $4.00 - dozen.

RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE — ST. AGNES AND HOLY TRINITY PENANCE SERVICES: Parish Reconciliation Service, Wednesday, December 15th, 7:00 p.m. at St. Agnes Church. Holy Trinity Penance Service is on Thursday, December 16th, at 7:00 p.m. A number of priests of our Steel Valley Deanery will available for confession. Excellent opportunity of preparing for the Lord’s birth by receiving this beautiful Sacrament of being reconciled with the Lord and with our neighbors. —Otherwise, the confession times are before the Saturday evening Masses, and that is, before the 4:00 p.m. Mass at Holy Trinity and before the 6:00 p.m. Mass at St. Agnes.

Advent Confessions... Do you want to find peace? Do you want to grow spiritually? As much as we strive for perfection, the known reality within each of us readily admits to a state of sinfulness. To prepare properly for the coming of Christ at Christmas requires spiritual conversion to His Gospel values. Confessing of sin is integral to the conversion. You are nervous because it has been a long time since you have been to confession. Respond to the movement of the Spirit within yourself and take the plunge. Don’t worry about what to say or how to say it. You already know the manner in which you have displeased God by your lifestyle. Mention those sins and request forgiveness. St. Agnes Church strongly promotes the sacrament of forgiveness. Trust in God’s mercy even if you haven’t been to confession in four, seven, ten or fifteen years. Come home to a Loving Father waiting to forgive you.

Christmas Flower Fund…Each year at Christmas, the churches are beautifully decorated for the Birth of Jesus with Christmas Flowers. This tradition is made possible through the generous donations of our parishioners. An altar made radiant with flowers is a beautiful way to honor or remember our loved ones. We invite you to make a donation to the Christmas Flower Fund “in Memory of” a deceased loved one or “In Honor of” a living one. Please write the names of friends and relatives on the back of the envelope and put in the collection basket or return to Parish Office by Monday, December 13th. The names will be remembered in the Special Masses of Christmas and will be listed on a Christmas Flower Memorial bulletin insert.

Our Heartiest Congratulations to the family of MACIE ANN KAMPE, the child of Rebecca and Bryce, baptized at St. Agnes Church today, Sunday, December 5th, 2010.

HEARTFELT SYMPATHY…. to the family and friends of

STEVE GAYDOS, Holy Trinity

and OLGA POLLOCK, St. Agnes

May our Heavenly Father embrace all our beloved deceased and number them among the elect

at the banquet of Heaven. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Final Analysis People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; ...Forgive them anyway! If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; ...Be kind anyway! If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; … Succeed anyway!

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; ...Be honest and frank anyway! What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; ...Build anyway! If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; ...Be happy anyway! The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; ...Do good anyway! Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; ...Give the world the best you’ve got anyway!

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; ...It was never between you and them anyway. —Mother Teresa

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Holy Trinity is Seeking Volunteers to help Decorate the Church for Christmas

on Wednesday, December 15th at 1:00 p.m. Please come and help…

a lot of hands make a big job small !!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

St. Agnes Lottery Calendars—Our 2011 Lottery Calendars will remain on sale throughout December. You only have a chance to be a winner by purchasing a calendar that is good for 365 days. Calendars are $20 each! They make great Christmas gifts for those who have everything! Want a special number? —Call the School, 412-466-6238, and we will check if we still have the number and if so, we will have it for you after Mass on the weekend.

Please Pray for Our Beloved Sick

Weekly, the bulletin lists our sick, shut-ins, and hospitalized. If you wish to add or alter this listing, please call the Parish Offices, so that we can have our special listing updated. Your cooperation, visits, and daily prayers are deeply appreciated.

Holy Trinity Maria Alzo, Patricia Brevko,

Mary Lisa Holzwarth, Betty Horgas, Diane Kovalsky, Anne Kushan, Mary Pavlik,

Ann Sabo, Ray Shahen, Margaret Shimko, Margaret Svirbel, Martha Vasil,

Ann Yonek, Robert Zeok

St. Agnes Jean Abels, Alberta Buchleitner, Florence Dugan, Irene Fontanese,

Steve Grochalski, Ann Gruber, Edmond Gruber, John Gruber, Gruber,

Mary Hanchak, Loretta Hudak, Mary Elizabeth Hudick, Robert Kosko,

Dorothy Kostovny, Beverly List, Judy Matta, Victor Merritt, Raymond Milko,

Genevieve Obringer, Catherine Olsakovsky, Dorothy Petrak, Brian Saunders,

Rudy Saunders, Teresa Schaff, Paula Smith, Glenn Steimer, Marie Steiner,

Rose Ann Thomas

ST. AGNES — November 28, 2010

$ 4,296.00 - - Sunday Offertory $ 180.00 - - Parish Share Program

PSP Assessment-2010 ………...……….…. $ 24,367.00 Amount Collected PSP …………..……… $ 20,884.00 Monthly School Subsidy ..……….………. $ 6,167.00

REMEMBER OUR PARISH SHARE PROGRAM CAMPAIGN

~~ REMEMBER ST. AGNES CHURCH AND HOLY TRINITY CHURCH IN YOUR WILL ~~

HOLY TRINITY — November 28, 2010

$ 2,518.00 - - Sunday Offertory $ 1,816.00 - - Retirement for Religious

PSP Assessment-2010 ………...……….…..$ 24,875.00 Amount Collected PSP …………..………..$ 16,961.00

MEMORIALS IN MEMORY OF YOUR LOVED ONES ARE

BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE ONGOING PROJECTS