A Critical Need Dear friends, on this day in particular, but also in the ordinary pastoral life of our communities, I ask the Church to continue to promote vocations. May she touch the hearts of the faithful and enable each of them to discover with gratitude God’s call in their lives, to find courage to say “yes” to God, to overcome all weariness through faith in Christ, and to make of their lives a song of praise for God, for their brothers and sisters, and for the whole world. May the Virgin Mary accompany us and intercede for us.
Pope Francis, World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 2020 This Sunday, May 3, is World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 2020. This is a day to publicly celebrate vocations to ordained ministry and religious life in all forms. Everyone is needed to promote a culture of vocations – an openness among our children and young people to listen to God’s call to a life of full-time service in the Church. It’s a gift from God! Parents, families, and lay ecclesial ministers in the Church are to begin a conversation with young Catholics to consider how they can live lives of holiness and sacred service. Father Will is preparing to announce plans for a parish-based Vocation Committee within the Catholic Community of Wexford. Your participation in this ministry of prayer will be most welcome! Begin praying about your role now.
We all have a responsibility to ignite the Church with the confident humility that there is an urgent need (as we know well in our own diocese) for religious sisters, brothers, permanent deacons, and priests to live a life of solidarity with those who are poor, neglected and marginalized, as did Jesus. Don’t be afraid to disrupt the complacent attitudes with new ideas to respond courageously and creatively with a daily “YES!”
The Sacrament of Mercy With permission from Bishop Zubik, the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is being restored in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Following the Statewide restrictions, confessions are not to heard in churches or buildings at this time. However, we are permitted to do confessions outdoors applying the guidelines that have been set forth.
In the Wexford Catholic Community, this will begin weekly, starting
Saturday morning, May 2 from 11:00 – 12:00 noon at Saint Alexis, taking advantage of the facilities and parking layout. Those wishing to celebrate this beautiful Sacrament of Mercy are to respect the following directives: • Line up in your vehicle in the parking lot along of Father Rodgers Hall – the former church building from the bell tower facing the Orchard.
Pull up to the sign which indicates “Line for Confessions Begins Here”
Remain in your car. When it is your turn to have your confession heard, you may, 1) Go face to face. Turn off your car and take a seat across from priest under the portico (or in the Orchard, or, 2) Maintain your anonymity by remaining in your car, roll down the passenger side window, and make your confession.
Weather permitting and accessing need, a second priest may be available in the Orchard near the Marian Shrine. You are to follow the same protocol as described above. Please follow the signage in order to respect everyone’s privacy. We hope to have volunteers available to assist you.
We continue to pray for a vaccine to stem the COVID-19 pandemic as we remember those sickened by it, the medical professionals and care givers, all those on the front line, and those whose lives have significantly disrupted. Thank you!