From the Desk of Darcy Osby
The Feast of the Holy Family
This Sunday is one of my favorite feasts! We celebrate the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. I tend to put these three on a pedestal and think that they are completely out of reach as a role model for our average families. I mean, Jesus was literally God, Mary was immaculately conceived and therefore sinless, and Joseph must have been pretty holy too to be chosen as Jesus’ earthly father. All of the images we have portray them as peaceful, happy, loving, gazing fondly at each other. Anyone who tried to take a nice family photo with little ones for their Christmas cards this year knows what a feat that is.
What we don’t get to see in the scriptures is their daily lives and routines. We know Joseph was a craftsman, and most likely taught Jesus his trade as fathers did at that time. Mary probably took care of the home as most women did by cooking, weaving, making and washing clothes, fetching water from the well, etc. They would have taught Jesus how to pray in their Jewish tradition. They would have told him stories from the scriptures and from their family history. They would have done many of the same daily tasks of family life that we still do today. And that is HOLY.
Many people think that our families are only holy when we are doing overtly religious things like going to Mass, praying, reading the Bible or doing a service project. But holiness can be found in doing the small daily tasks of loving and caring for our family well. We wash the dishes because we love the person who will eat off of them next. We discipline our children because we want them to grow in virtue as disciples of Jesus. We work so that we can provide for the basic needs of our family and contribute to the greater good of our community. These are all holy acts of family life.
Mother Teresa once said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This New Year may we look to the Holy Family not as a perfect model we will never reach, but as a source of grace to help us find holiness in the little ways we live out our lives in our domestic churches. Mary and Joseph, pray for us!
Ministry News
Faith Formation
We will meet on Wednesday January 3. The next Family Program session is January 7.
Mission Trip to Kentucky
The trip is set for June 23-29, 2024 in David, Kentucky. We will be staying at the David School, a regional trade school with cabins on the property.
More info to come in the new year! Including information about an informational meeting with Parents sometime in February.
Following Christ
The Following Christ Program is a follow up to Discovering Christ and is open to everyone who has completed the Discovering Christ, Alpha, or The Search Programs offered previously at St. Aidan or other parishes.
The Following Christ Program consists of seven weekly sessions.
• Sunday afternoon sessions (1:00 to 3:00 pm, January 7 through February 25) include prayer, a video, small group discussion, and light refreshments.
• All sessions will be held at the Blessed Seelos Academy Cafeteria.
Annual Retreat
Please prayerfully consider our weekend retreat at St. Paul of the Cross Monastery this coming:
January 5-7 for Women | January 19-21 For Men
Are you looking for a fresh start? A retreat is a great way to begin the new year. If you've never been on a retreat, 2024 is your year! Also, giving the gift of a retreat to someone is a beautiful idea. (Even if that someone is yourself). Call the Retreat Center to register. 412-381-7676
Music Ministry
St. Aidan Parish music ministry is seeking volunteer choir members, cantors, and instrumentalists. All ages and experience levels welcome. For more information, please contact our music director, Lucas Barkley, at lbarkley@saintaidanparish.org. Clearances are required.
Sick or Homebound
Do you have a family member, neighbor or friend within our parish community who is homebound? Do they need communion brought to them, a visit from a friendly face, or maybe they just need the parish bulletin mailed to them? If you know of someone in need, email Barb Griffith at homecare@saintaidanparish.org and she can arrange for a minister to visit them.
March For Life
The March for Life takes place in Washington, DC each January. On January 19, we will begin with 5:30 am Mass, participants then board a bus which departs from the Saint Alphonsus parking lot at 6:00 am for Washington, DC, where it meets up with marchers from all across the United States to peacefully walk in support of life. Following the March, the bus returns to Saint Alphonsus later that evening. If you need special accommodations, please contact the parish office at (724) 935-4343 and ask for Christine Miller. A free will offering to defray bus costs will be collected. An additional free will offering will be asked for a bus driver tip. Anyone under the age of 18 and traveling without a parent must have a permission slip signed by a parent to attend (found here). For more info, please contact Christine Miller at cmiller@saintaidanparish.org. Sign up for the March here
Epiphany Volunteer Appreciation Party
Change of Date
The event previously would be January 5 but has now been moved to February 2.
Saint Aidan Parish would like to invite all volunteers to join us for a celebration of your commitment and love for this great community! Please RSVP if you are able to join us.
February 2 beginning at 5:30 in the Cafeteria at the Faith Formation Center (previously referred to the St. Alexis School).
Food and beverages to be provided
If you previously RSVP'd please do so again as the date has changed.
Other Parish News
Year End Notes
As the calendar year 2023 comes to an end, please consider an additional charitable donation to Saint Aidan Parish. As we continue to update our campuses and buildings, your donations are vital to these improvements. All contributions are welcome, both large and small, and you can specify the usage (extraordinary maintenance, debt reduction, general offertory etc.). Donations are tax-deductible; please consult your tax advisor for any questions regarding your tax return.
Donation statements for 2023 will be sent out by January 31, 2024, as required by IRS code. They will be emailed to the address we have on file. If no email is available, a paper copy will be sent through the US mail. Please be sure that your contact information is up to date to avoid any delays in receiving this information. You may contact the parish office at 724-935-4343 with any updates or changes. As always, thank you for your continued generosity to Saint Aidan Parish!
Pajama Drive Update
'Dear Parish Family,
Thank you for all of your support, making our 6th annual pajama drive a huge success! We were truly humbled by your kindness, and can’t thank you enough for your generosity. Because of you, we were able to partner with 10 different charitable organizations and two kindergarten classes from Erie to Appalachia, and touch the lives of men, women, and children who are facing unimaginable circumstances. Because of you, 865 people have received a little bit of love, warmth, and a small reminder that they matter, and are cared for.
We truly want to extend a HUGE and heartfelt thank you to all of you for allowing us to serve others through your donations. As the pajama drive continues to evolve, it reminds us how the things we come to take for granted – like a warm pair of pajamas in winter – can make a world of difference to someone. In the words of one pajama recipient, “there’s nothing that makes you feel more at home than a cozy pair of pajamas”. We love you for allowing us to help others. We are already thinking about next year!'
-Katie, Lexie, and Maggie Miller
Special Collection
On January 20th – 21st, a special collection will take place to benefit the students of St. Anthony School Programs and DePaul School for Hearing and Speech. We have been so blessed to have the support of the parishes around the Diocese and look forward to your continued support this coming year! The children of St. Anthony School Programs and DePaul School for Hearing and Speech have flourished and grown thanks to the generous gifts parishioners throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh have provided.
St. Anthony School Programs offers an inclusive education to children ages 5-21 with Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other special needs. DePaul School for Hearing and Speech teaches children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who have severe speech delays to listen, speak, and learn. Together, St. Anthony’s and DePaul School empower students to become active and contributing members of their respective communities. Together, through this special collection, we can support our students' spiritual and academic growth, and give back the joy they share with us, each day.
Here is how you can help the children of our programs:
- Please put the enclosed fliers and/or graphics in your bulletin or display in your parish community spaces to raise awareness of the Diocesan collection and these two critical programs in the Diocese.
- Please encourage your parishioners to participate in the special Diocesan collection and help them to understand the importance their support means to the success of some of the youngest members of our faith.
- Remind your parishioners to please update their Faith Direct accounts so they may also contribute to this special collection.
With your support and prayers, we are confident God will continue to work through our programs to help our students grow and succeed. This special collection also allows us to reach out to families within the Diocese who need our services. Thank you for giving your heart to these children.
Protecting God’s Children Training Event
Saint Aidan Parish will be hosting a training session for the Diocesan training Protecting God’s Children on Sunday February 4, 2024 at 1 PM in the Blessed Seelos Academy Cafeteria. If you have been thinking about obtaining Diocesan clearances, this is a good opportunity to be able to get everything done for most Parish volunteer positions!
Assistance will be available to register as a volunteer on the Diocesan website and filling out forms for state clearances. The training for Protecting God’s Children will be presented by Phyllis Haney, the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s Secretariat for the Protection of Children, Youth & Vulnerable Adults.
Pre-registration is required. To register, or if you have questions, contact Mary King, Saint Aidan Parish Safe Environment Coordinator at mking@saintaidanparish.org or call 724-935-4343 x212.
Knights of Columbus Council 3907 Would Like To Say Thank You
To show our appreciation and thank everyone for their generous contributions and support of all of our charitable efforts, your Knights of Columbus Council 3907 Wexford is sponsoring four informational sessions, all related to your Financial Wellbeing. These sessions are open to everyone, all totally free without cost or obligation; and no one who attends will be contacted. These sessions cover several topics important to most of us.
All of the sessions will be held on Tuesday nights starting at 7:00 pm and will last approximately one hour. and will be held at the Ryan Center at Saint Alphonsus Church (Blessed Seelos Academy gymnasium). Please mark your calendar to save the following dates:
January 9, 2024 – Retirement Planning – Brian Quaranta, CEO Secure Money Advisors (SMA)
February 9, 2024 – How Insurance Can Work for you - David McIntosh, FIC K of C
March 12, 2024 – Understanding Social Security – Neil Mager – Sr Financial Advisor SMA
April 19, 2024 – Understanding Medicare - Sr. Health Care Specialist SMA
Studies have shown that people spend more time planning their vacation than planning for their financial well-being. Bring your relatives, friends and neighbor and join us at one or all of the sessions. Thank you once again for your past generosity.
St. Alexis Commemorative Book
We still have approximately 25 copies of the commemorative St. Alexis Stained Glass Windows and Stations of the Cross books available for purchase at a price of $85/book. If you would like to purchase the book, please pay with the attached link: saintaidanparish.org/saintalexisbook and pick up your copy at the parish center, or visit the parish center to pay in cash.
Walking With Moms In Need (WWMIN)
Saint Aidan Parish cherishes the dignity of every human life and seeks to make our Catholic church a loving community for pregnant and parenting moms and dads. The Catholic church should be a welcoming place where those with these needs find help. We want to offer ongoing confidential support and resources during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Saint Aidan Parish is among the first in our diocese to join a nationwide United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB - usccb.org) initiative called Walking with Moms in Need (WWMIN - walkingwithmoms.com), a new and confidential parish network of resources for those who don’t know where to turn for help with:
• Planned and unplanned pregnancy support or crisis pregnancy.
• After childbirth support and parenting support.
• Pregnancy loss (abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss).
All parishioners are invited to actively join us in helping those in our community who need it. Once the program is up and running it will include:
• A WWMIN resource list and website.
• Parish projects to support women and men in need.
• A fully engaged Catholic pastoral support program through the priests and deacons.
• Being an ambassador for the program.
• Actively engaging the parish in prayer for WWMIN.
Questions on Walking with Moms in Need?
Contact Keith Young at wwmin@saintaidanparish.org or talk with any of the WWMIN Core Team – Beth Ann Veres, Kim Nolan, Mark Mitros MD, Maria Myron, Barb Griffith, Jen Bailey, Tina Ricci, Pam Surano. Know someone who needs help immediately? Contact Kim Antonacci-Nolan at wwmin@saintaidanparish.org or 724-935-4343 ext 263.
Please pray for all involved in this project.
Need Help Now? Call or text the Women's Choice Network
Call 412-687-7767
Text 412-776-6687
Have questions? wwmin@saintaidanparish.org | 724-935-4343ext263
