Saint Valentine Parish Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Conducted by
Rev. Donald Ware, C.P.
of
St. Paul of the Cross
Monastery
In the
quiet stillness of the Winter Season is a perfect time of reflection to renew
ourselves as individuals, as members of the local community and as members of
St. Valentine Parish. The Parish Mission is an opportunity of reflection and
spiritual growth.
The
Parish Mission conducted by Rev. Donald Ware, C.P. begins with the weekend
Masses of Feb. 7-8, 2004 and concludes with Mass on Feb. Ilth. Each evening a
different aspect of the spiritual life will be addressed. You are encouraged to
make every effort to come along for the journey by participating in each
evenings gathering as well as if possible daily Mass at 8:30 a.m.
What
better time to invite our friends, family and neighbors to join all of our
parish family in renewing our faith and love in Jesus Christ. It is a great
opportunity to rediscover the faith for anyone who has been away from the Roman
Catholic Church. From High School students to Senior Citizens, all are welcome
to come journey with Fr. Ware.
Following
the Mission we have two special opportunities to continue the journey by
building up our community and nourishing our faith in conjunction with our
annual celebration of our patron saints feast. First we will have a parish wide
"Family Wedding Celebration" on Saturday, February 14th. Then we are
holding a Eucharistic Day beginning with the conclusion of Sunday Evening
February 15 Mass until the Solemn closing ceremony on Monday Evening, February
16 at 7:30 p.m. We hope all will avail themselves of these opportunities.
Please
pray for the success of our parish mission and feast day celebrations.
Peace in Christ Jesus,
Fr.
Francis
Fr.
Tom
A
Parish Mission offers a parish an opportunity for the spiritual renewal and
development of its parishioners. It is a time of prayer, of devotion, and
deepening our appreciation of our faith.
The
purpose of a Parish Mission is:
.To
provide for the spiritual development of the parish
.To
give motivational insights into the faith .To encourage a daily following in
the foot
steps
of the Lord
Fr.
Ware will preach during all Masses this weekend to begin our Parish Mission.
The theme of the mission is:
Our
Christian Journey through life
10:10 a.m.
Service 0£ Light
Fr.
Ware will speak to Religious Education Students (grades 5-8) in the school gym.
8:00 p.m.
Christ the Light
Does
Christ light the journey of our life?
Fr.
Ware will address the topics:
§
7
Capital Sins
§
Worth=Net
Worth?
§
Jesus
is the Way, the Truth, the life.
Light reception
to follow in Frawley Hall
8:30
a.m. Mass The Eucharist on Our Journey
10:00 a.m.
Service of Light Fr. Ware will speak to the school children, grades k-4
in the Church.
7:30 p.m. Surprised
by Grace
On Our
life's journey God's grace surrounds us.. are we aware of this?
Fr.
Ware will address the topics:
§
Where
is God?
§
The
Obstacle
§
Prayer
Revisited
§
Surprised
by Grace
Light reception
to follow in Frawley Hall
8:30
a.m. Mass The Eucharist on our Journey (cont'd)
10:00 a.m.
Service of Light Fr. Ware will speak to the school children, grades 5-8 in
the Church.
7:30 p.m. Our Christian Journey in Forgiveness
What role does forgiveness play on our Christian joumey?
(A
special welcome to all
High School Students for this Evening’s gathering)
Fr.
Ware will address the following topics:
§
Obstacles
to Forgiveness Today
§
What
Forgiveness Is Not
§
What
Forgiveness Is
§
The
Craft of Forgiveness
§
Asking
for Forgiveness
§
The
Process of Forgiveness
Individual
confessions will be available through the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Light
reception to follow in Frawley Hall
8:30 a.m.
Mass The Eucharist on Our Journey (cont'd)
9:30 a.m.
Spirituality of Aging...
Challenges
and Opportunities of Growing Older.
Fr.
Ware will lead an informal discussion on the possibilities for growth in our
spiritual life through the stages 'of young, senior, middle senior and older
senior years.
Note:
This gathering to be held in Newman House
6:30 p.m.
Service of Light
Fr.
Ware will speak to Religious Education Students, grades 5-8 in the school gym.
7:30 p.m.
Jesus is Coming Back...Journey's End What is the end of our journey of
life? Where are we headed?
Fr.
Ware will be the Main Celebrant and Homilist at Mass and speak on the following
topics:
§
Why
are we Created?
§
Jesus
Answers
§
Judgment
Day
§
What
Now?
Light reception
to follow in Frawley Hall
Fr.
Don Ware was born in Pittsburgh in December of 1944. He entered the Passionist
Seminary as a young man and took his vows in 1965 at Saint Paul's Monastery. He
finished his studies for the priesthood in 1972, Father earned two Master's
degrees, one in Theology and the other in Pastoral Counciling.
After
ordination in 1972 Father worked in the Passionist Retreat Centers, ministering
to both youth and adults. For fifteen years before returning to the Pittsburgh
Monastery in 2001 he was in charge of three of the largest Passionist Retreat
Centers: 1985-1991 Pittsburgh; 1991-1994 West Springfield, MA; and 1994-2000
Riverdale (Bronx).
Presently
Father Don is assistant superior of Saint Paul Monastery in Pittsburgh where 14
Passionist priests and brothers reside. His experience as a priest includes
administration of large retreat movements, lay leadership training, worship
training, worship leadership, and preaching of the Word of God. He has also
done continuing study in spiritual direction, business ethics, work
spirituality and elder spirituality.
St.
Valentine Parish Wedding Celebration following the 5:15 Mass in Frawley Hall.
Whether you come with your family, a friend or by yourself come and join us as
we celebrate World Marriage Day. All you need to do is this; bring a side dish
for 10 people and 2 dozen cookies and we will supply the rest especially the
fun, the polkas and of course wedding cake. So come and join the fun!
St.
Valentine Eucharistic Day we conclude our week in honor of St. Valentine with
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament all through the night and day beginning
after the Sunday Evening 6:30 p.m. Mass and continuing Monday through the day
until 7:30 p.m. at which time we will have the Solemn Closing of our
celebration with a Liturgy of the Word, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and
Benediction.