From the Desk of Fr. D.J. Egan
I would like to thank everyone for offering me such a warm welcome to St. Aidan Parish. As I get settled into the parish, I’d like to share a little bit about myself so that you have some idea of my background and personality. My name is David John Egan Junior. You can address me however you’d like, but most people call me Fr. D.J.
I am 35 years old, although my hairline suggests that I am 60. I have two older sisters and one younger brother. I grew up in Hampton Township near North Park, and on my day off I often like to go to my parents’ house in order to relax and freeload off them (I’m a millennial). My home parish was St. Mary of the Assumption located along Middle Road. I went to elementary school at St. Mary’s and later attended Shady Side Academy for high school. I graduated from Shady Side Academy in 2007 and then attended Allegheny College from which I graduated in 2011. While I was in college, I felt a call to the priesthood, and in the fall of 2012 I entered St. Paul Seminary here in Pittsburgh where I took philosophy classes at Duquesne University. After two years at Duquesne, Bishop Zubik assigned me to attend Theological College in Washington D.C., where, for four years, I studied theology at The Catholic University of America. I was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Bishop Zubik in 2019. I was formerly assigned to Divine Grace Parish as a parochial vicar. I am also a chaplain at North Catholic High School. I used to play sports and had a particular love for basketball and soccer. After a pastoral year assignment in Ambridge, where I gained about 60 lbs. in a single year eating hand pinched pierogies, the only “sports” that I’m now involved in are golfing and fishing. I am very happy to be at St. Aidan Parish, and I hope to get to know many of you as time goes on.
Ministry News
Faith Formation
The next Catholic HOM session is February 7th during Faith Formation.
The next Service Saturday is February 10 at 9:00 AM in the Blessed Seelos Cafeteria.
Please note the location change!
Life Teen Ministry
February 4: Matthew 5:3 Wealth
The goal of “Wealth” is for teens to understand how the disordered pursuit of money and goods is a substitute for God so that they may detach themselves from excessive desire for luxuries. Dinner will be provided.
Young Adult Ministry
February 5
All young adults are welcome to join us for a night of ice skating at the PPG Place Ice Rink. We will walk to the Milkshake Factory afterwards. Please email Christine for ticket information at cmiller@saintaidanparish.org.
Mission Trip to Kentucky
The trip is set for June 23-29, 2024 in David, Kentucky.
Please join us for the informational meeting we discussed a few weeks ago. Please join us after the 10:00 am Mass on February 18 in the Youth Room on the Saint Alexis campus. This informational meeting is for any teens, their parents, and adult helpers interested in going including skill sets. Anyone else interested in learning more about what this is all about is also welcomed . We will begin the meeting at 11:15 am.
For more information please contact Christine Miller at cmiller@saintaidanparish.orguse subject line: Mission Trip)
Walking With Purpose
Another glass of wine, just one more episode on Netflix, a little more scrolling on Instagram…Women are numbing out at ever-increasing rates. Why? What is it about our lives that makes us feel so overwhelmed? What might change if we figured out how to build lives that we don’t want to escape?
Ordering Your Priorities: Building a Life Well Lived is an immensely practical Bible study that will help you put the most important things first. We’ll begin by paying attention to the One who made us, because He can best tell us what we need for our lives to run well.
Ordering Your Priorities is ideal if you...
- Are ready to discover not only what matters most in life but also how to prioritize those things
- Long to feel satisfied at the end of the day, knowing that you’ve loved your family not just in your heart but also in your schedule
- Want to create a life that you don’t need to escape
Details
- Tuesday evenings, January 16 - March 5
- 6:30-7:30 PM
- We will meet virtually for this study, then will be back in person in the Spring! An email will be sent with the link.
- Register here
New Liturgy Scheduling System
Beginning on April 1, we will be switching to Ministry Scheduler Pro (MSP) for the scheduling of our weekend liturgies. This system will allow the users to specify dates of unavailability, submit substitute requests, and allows for a fairer and more even distribution of serving opportunities to all volunteers. In addition, there is a mobile app where you can view your schedule and accept substitute requests others have made.
All servers, lectors, and eucharistic ministers should have received an email from our Seminarian, Brian Myler, which contains your username and password. Please log into the system and enter your preferred Mass times as well as any specific dates or Mass times you are not available to serve between the period of 4/1/24 and 6/30/24. If you did not receive an email or have any questions regarding the new system, please contact Brian at bmyler@saintaidanparish.org or by calling the parish office.
Please be patient with us as we transition to this new system. Overall, we hope it meets everyone’s needs and provides a higher level of service to all our liturgical ministers.
Other Parish News
Eucharistic Adorers Needed at St. Aidan Parish
Will you prayerfully consider being a permanent or a substitute adorer at:
- St. Alphonsus Church on Mondays (Adoration is from 12:30 pm to 7:00 pm)
- St. Alexis Church on First Fridays (Adoration is from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm)
There's an immediate need on First Fridays at St. Alexis Church from 11:00 am to noon for a permanent adorer. Email devotions@saintaidanparish.org or call the Parish Office at 724-935-4343 and provide your name, phone #, email address, the church and the time slots that you will cover and if you can be a permanent adorer or substitute adorer.
Passion Play Rehearsals
Passion Play practices will take place Tuesday and Thursday on the new side of St. Alphonsus church from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm (see below for the specific dates). Any parishioner can be a part of this! If interested in being a part of the Passion Play, email Mary Heagy at mheagy@saintaidanparish.org. Feel free to come to the practices. We have many families that do this as their Lenten journey. The more the better!
Tuesday, 2/6
Thursday, 2/8
Tuesday, 2/13
Thursday, 2/15
Tuesday, 2/20
Thursday, 2/22
Tuesday, 2/27
Thursday, 2/29
Performance dates are Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, March 22nd and March 23
2024 St. Aidan Fish Fry
Planning for the 17th annual Saint Aidan (Saint Alphonsus Church) Fish fry is well underway! In years past we have served over 14,000 meals during Lent and raised thousands of dollars going directly toward paying for parish & school expenses. This year we hope to raise even more!
All proceeds are equally split between Saint Aidan Parish and Blessed Francis Seelos Academy!
Questions? Contact Brie Kemp at 563-940-5983 or fishfry@saintaidanparish.org.
Click Here to view the online sponsorship page.
Click here for a printable sponsorship form.
Click here for the volunteer sign up (MUST have complete and up to date clearances!)
Click here to volunteer to delivery fish fry dinners to homebound Parishioners
Knights of Columbus Council 3907 Financial Wellbeing Seminars
As you may be aware, the Knights of Columbus Council 3907 is sponsoring four informational sessions all related to your Financial Wellbeing to show our appreciation and thank everyone for their generous contributions and support of all of our charitable efforts These sessions are open to anyone who would like to attend and all the sessions are totally free without cost or obligation and no one who attends will be contacted.
We recently completed our first session on Tuesday, January 9 covering Retirement Planning which was very well received. If you missed this session, you will not be behind as all the sessions are designed to be attended independently of the other sessions
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
St. Alphonsus Church (Blessed Seelos Academy gymnasium). Please mark your calendar to save the following dates and join us for some informative and insightful sessions:
February 6 – How Insurance Can Work for you - David McIntosh, FIC K of C
March 12 – Understanding Social Security – Neil Mager – Sr Financial Advisor SMA
April 9 – Understanding Medicare – Lisa Lauro Sr. Health Care Specialist SMA
Thank you once again for your past generosity.
Around the Diocese
Central Catholic Crew’s 28th Annual: Irish Night—Row On for Brendan
Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 4:00pm - Central Catholic High School
With great anticipation and gratitude we invite you and your families to join us for a rich and lively performance at our annual Irish Night- Row on for Brendan. This beautiful evening, filled with Irish music and dance, is a tribute to Brendan Foley, who brightened the halls of Central Catholic, rowed for the school, and left this world a better place for his 15-and-a-half years of life. We are indebted to Brendan's family and friends for supporting the Central Catholic Crew program by supporting this wonderful event.
Over the past 27 years Irish Night has raised more than $600,000 for Central Catholic Crew. The program has provided young men an opportunity to learn and compete in a demanding sport and represent Central Catholic on the national rowing stage.
Over the past 27 years Irish Night has raised more than $600,000 for Central Catholic Crew. The program has provided young men an opportunity to learn and compete in a demanding sport and represent Central Catholic on the national rowing stage.
Irish Night website: irishnight.net
Purchase tickets here: irishnight.net/tickets
Visit irishnight.net/donate for details on sponsorships and advertising levels. Sponsorships and ads must be received by Feb. 2nd, 2024 to be included in the promotional materials.
We look forward to sharing a beautiful evening with you. Please join Joanie Madden, Bruce Foley, and Friends!
Join the Lenten Challenge
Are you looking for a daily Lenten inspiration to help you draw closer to Jesus through prayer and sacrifice? Register for the 2024 Lenten Challenge by texting LENT2024 to 84576 or visiting diopitt.org/lent. Last year, 7,500 people participated, and many shared their experiences:
- “Your texts have been such a blessing to me this Lent! You offered practical ideas on how to grow spiritually!”
- “It drew me closer to my Lord’s sufferings and made me think that any sufferings I might experience could never be as bad as the torture He went through, all for the love of me.”
40 Days for Life
From February 14 - March 24, you are invited to join other Christians for 40 Days for Life - 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion. You’re also invited to stand and peacefully pray during a 40 day vigil in the public right-of-way outside Planned Parenthood, 933 Liberty Avenue, and help to spread the word about this important community outreach. If you’d like more info or if you’d like to volunteer, contact Nikki, nbruni@40daysforlifepgh.com.
Kick-off Mass at Divine Mercy Parish, Epiphany Church on Tuesday, February 13 at 6:00 pm, followed by a Eucharistic Procession to Planned Parenthood led by His Excellency, Bishop William Waltersheid. This is a free event. Visit 40daysforlife.com/Pittsburgh for more info or check out our blog at 40daysforlifepittsburgh.com.
Lenten Mission hosted by Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish and Steubenville Parish Missions
This three-day mission will be held from Sunday, March 3 through Tuesday, March 5 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. The cost of attendance is $30 for all three nights.
Location: Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish – Saints John & Paul Church
2586 Wexford-Bayne Road, Sewickley, PA 15143
