Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh

Amid the darkness of the pandemic, Father Richard Jones offers a vaccine against hopelessness and despair: the cross of Christ. Read in his Pittsburgh Catholic article how his heartbreaking hands-on experiences with those who have suffered from the virus have shown him that the faith and love we learn at the foot of the cross are stronger than death. https://pittsburghcatholic.org//02/26/a-vaccine-for-our-s/

As Catholic Sisters Week kicks off today, the Catholic Sisters Leadership Council of western Pennsylvania is joining a national challenge by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious to fight hunger. Read in the Pittsburgh Catholic how congregations around the diocese are battling high rates of food insecurities that have resulted from the pandemic by stocking food pantries, donating money, and producing their own food. https://pittsburghcatholic.org//sisters-lead-efforts-to-h/

This Wednesday evening, the Light is On for You! If you have not been to Confession in a long time, don't worry. God's mercy and love are waiting for you through the Sacrament of Confession in parishes across the diocese. Check with your parish for the specific times and churches where Confession will be offered. For resources to help you prepare for the sacrament, visit: https://diopitt.org/lightison.

As winter slowly thaws to spring, you may be cleaning your home to welcome the warmer weather. In her Catholic at Home column for The Pittsburgh Catholic, Jennifer Antkowiak offers some tips on how you can clean your heart this Lent, making more room for Jesus. https://pittsburghcatholic.org//catholic-at-home-on-the-r/

A commercial for the newest iPhone recently tempted Bishop Zubik to upgrade his perfectly good smartphone. In his Pittsburgh Catholic Bridging the Gap column, Bishop Zubik reflects on how our phone’s cameras allow us to freeze moments in time and offers us a snapshot of Jesus’s life and of ours to reflect on during Lent. https://pittsburghcatholic.org//02/26/bridging-the-gap-3-/

Today we remember the heroic life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought for equal rights and freedom for all people. May we follow his example, treating all people with respect and dignity.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be remembered Sunday during a Mass for Peace and Justice at 10 am at St. Paul Cathedral and a virtual program at 2 pm. Read event details and local leaders' thoughts on the impact of Dr. King's work and his legacy, in The Pittsburgh Catholic. https://pittsburghcatholic.org//mass-for-peace-and-justic/

While student-teacher relationships remain at the heart of an education at Butler Catholic, read how a new technology initiative is helping to transform learning, in The Pittsburgh Catholic: https://pittsburghcatholic.org//new-technology-helps-butl/.

"With our whole community, I join in mourning the death of Joanne Rogers, a woman whose warmth and love was shared with her family and the entire Pittsburgh region," Bishop Zubik said, on the passing of Joanne Rodgers. http://diopitt.org//bishop-david-zubik-statement-on-joanne

As a lifelong sports lover, Rachael Kriger was excited to take on coaching soccer, in addition to assistant coaching basketball, at her alma mater, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. She shares the unexpected lessons she gained from coaching amid the pandemic with The Pittsburgh Catholic. https://pittsburghcatholic.org//coaching-lessons-from-a-p/

The canonization process for Elisabeth Leseur, a French woman who maintained steadfast faith amid deep sorrow, has been reopened, thanks to Jennifer MacNeil, development director for St. Joseph High School. Read about Leseur’s extraordinary life in The Pittsburgh Catholic. MacNeal, who found a heavenly friend in Leseur through struggle with infertility, will give a Facebook Live interview about Leseur for Ignatius Press today at 1:00 pm EST. Watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/ignatiuspress/. https://pittsburghcatholic.org//sainthood-candidates-stor/

The coronavirus won’t stop us from coming together as a community! Bishop Zubik will live stream Mass every Sunday, via the diocese’s YouTube channel, from his and the seminarians’ gorgeous chapel at St. Paul Seminary. It starts tomorrow, March 22, at 10 am. Grab your family or friends at home and pray with the diocese every Sunday morning, right here: https://bit.ly/2WJxpnR.

@The Culture Project missionaries share the dignity of each human person and invite teens and young adults to live heroic lives of virtue. Meet the Pittsburgh mission team and learn more about their work in Theresa Sullivan's Pittsburgh Catholic story: https://pittsburghcatholic.org//sharing-the-beauty-of-sel/. The missionaries are available to speak at schools, parishes and events at no cost.

Perspective changes everything. It’s easy to become so used to the small good things in our lives that we think they are owed to us. But every good thing is a gift from God. Thank God today for something good that you usually don’t notice. #diopittgratitude

After receiving a report of a third person testing positive for COVID-19, Central Catholic High School (Oakland, PA) has made the decision to close tomorrow, Thursday, November 12, 2020. The cases appear to be independent of each other, and there is no evidence of internal spread of the virus. http://diopitt.org//central-catholic-high-school-closes-fo

Amid all the unrest in our world, Heather Dorman found herself wasting too much time on fear and anxiety. She realized that God was calling her to use her time more wisely: in acts of love and service to those around her. Read how she is spreading the light of hope in her post for the diocesan blog, Trading Parables: https://diopitt.org/news/share-the-light.

Looking too far ahead disturbs our peace. When we thank God for the good things He has done, we remember who He is: a good Father who always provides for us. Today, thank God for something good He has given you and ask Him to help you surrender any fears about the future. #diopittgratitude

Today on Veterans Day, we give a special thanks to the men and women who have selflessly served our country. Their service and their sacrifices have kept us safe. Pray for all veterans today and thank the veterans in your life.

"With today’s release of the McCarrick report and recognizing the many victims for whom this report will reopen deep wounds, I express my sorrow and shame that that anyone representing the Church sexually abused them or turned a deaf ear to their cries," Bishop David Zubik said. http://diopitt.org//statement-from-bishop-david-zubik-on-t

The poor of Chimbote, Peru are suffering greatly amid the coronavirus pandemic. To help them, the diocese is holding its annual Peru Mission Dinner virtually on November 12, 2020. Check out The Pittsburgh Catholic to learn about the diocese’s bridge of love and hope to Chimbote and to watch video updates from the co-founders of the Social Works Center in Chimbote: https://pittsburghcatholic.org//annual-chimbote-event-set/.

We show our gratitude to God when we serve Him in our neighbor. Go out of your way today to do a kind deed for someone. #diopittgratitude

A sign of the Christmas season returns soon to downtown Pittsburgh! Construction is well underway on the beloved Pittsburgh Creche in U.S. Steel Plaza. The creche is the only authorized replica of the Nativity scene that St. John Paul II commissioned for the Vatican. Bob De Witt reports on the construction process and what the creche means to people, for the Pittsburgh Catholic: https://pittsburghcatholic.org//a-sign-of-the-season-retu/.

This pandemic has forced us to slow down and look around us. Maybe you have noticed beautiful things in your life that you hadn’t before, even things as simple as the sun setting during an evening walk. Today, make a point to enjoy something beautiful and thank God for it. #diopittgratitude

Holy Spirit Academy including the preschool (New Castle, PA) will shift to virtual learning until December 1, 2020. Administrators were notified that two people associated with the school tested positive for COVID-19. http://diopitt.org//holy-spirit-academy-and-preschool-move

The sixth grade at Holy Sepulcher Catholic Elementary School (Butler, PA) will participate in virtual learning for the next 14 days. The school was notified that one person associated with the class tested positive for COVID-19, and there are existing quarantines due to non-school related COVID-19 exposures. http://diopitt.org//sixth-grade-class-at-holy-sepulcher-sc

As we enter the second week of our 30 Days of Gratitude campaign, we’re focusing on how to remain grateful to God through challenges. One way to do that is by praising God for who He is and what He has done for you. Pray these words from the Psalms and give something that is challenging you over to God. #diopittgratitude