Pastor

Rev. Robert L. Ruston

Sts. Gregory & Barnabas Parish Welcome to 

Daily Mass: (See inside for locations)

8:00AM Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Friday

6:30PM Thursday

Weekend Liturgy:

Saturday: 4:00PM (Daisytown)

Sunday: 8:00AM (Bon Air)

10:00AM (Daisytown)

120 Boltz Street 408 Luzon Avenue

Johnstown, PA 15902

Phone: 814-536-6818

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 2:00PM

Visit us on the WEB!

www.ssgregbar.org

Join us on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/

groups/SSGregoryBarnabas/

Reconciliation: Saturday: Noon—12:30PM (Daisytown)

Saturday: 3:15—3:45PM (Daisytown)

Sacrament of Baptism: Parents are to be examples to their children by being regis-tered, active members of the Parish. Please call the rectory office to make arrangements.

Sacrament of Marriage: Couples planning to marry are to make arrangements at least nine months prior to their wedding date. Diocesan Guidelines regarding Marriage Prep-aration must be followed. The Catholic party/parties is/are to be registered, active members in the parish.

Anointing of the Sick: Please call the church office if you have a family member or friend in the hospital who would like to receive the Sacraments. The homebound and parishioners in nursing homes should also receive the Sacrament of the Sick and Holy Communion.

Parish Membership: New members are always welcome! If you are moving into, within, or out of the Parish, please call the Rectory Office and let us know.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): All who would like more information about membership in the Roman Catholic Church are invited to call the Church Office.

EMAIL: stsgregbar@dioceseaj.org

United In Christ

MISSION STATEMENT

As Catholic Christians, we will live to serve God and each other. And do His will as one family united in Faith. We will teach, serve, and be an example to the youth of the parish that they will come to a full understanding of Christ and His plan for their lives. We will nurture the gifts and talents of all parish members and use them wisely for the glory of God. We will compassionately implement the Spiritual and Corporal works of Mercy for those in our Parish, Diocese and throughout the world. Through the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we affirm our Communion with Christ and each other. All are welcome.

20 S O T A 19, 2018

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will 

have life because of me.” ‐ Jn 6:56‐57 

 

M (SG) 8:00AM

T (SB) 8:00AM

W (SG) 8:00AM

T (SG) 8:00AM

F (SB) 8:00AM

S (SG) 4:00PM

S (SB) 8:00AM

(SG) 10:00AM

Welcome to Sts. Gregory & Barnabas Parish

WEEKLY SCHEDULE MASS SCHEDULE (Mass Stipend $10)

 

Sunday, August 19th 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Wednesday, Fr. Bob’s Day off Next Sunday, August 26th Mass starts at 11:00AM 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Family members are asked to present Offertory Gifts at weekend masses being offered for their loved ones.

August 19, 2018

Liturgical Reflection… With the legitimate motives present for the choice of cremation, the ashes of the faithful must be laid to rest in a sacred place such as a cemetery or in a church. From the earliest times, Christians have desired that the faithful departed become the objects of the Chris-tian community’s prayers and remembrance. Their tombs have become places of prayer, remembrance and reflection. The faithful departed remain part of the Church, united with those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heav-en, all together forming one Church. Instruction, Ad resurgendum cum Christo, Congre-gation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2016, Number 5. Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Liturgy Office

A LOOK AT WHATS AHEAD

David Schmadel by Linda & Deb Moschgat

Thelma Ponchek by Rosemarie Honchar

Vera Partsch by Barb & Mike Bozic

Richard & Catherine Huss by Children & Grandchildren

Thomas Schellhammer–Anniversary by Mother

For the People

Francis W. “Goose” Kudel by Jim & Amy Dallas

Catherine H. Kormanik by Janet & Edward Zebner

IN STITCHES Meets this Tuesday, August 21st from 

6:30 to 8PM  in the Rectory Basement 

 BUS TRIP UPDATE: 1 seat le !!!!

Sight & Sound: JESUS August 31st at 3PM

Dinner Hershey Farm

Payments are due now, Please! Adults $123—Children $78

CATHOLIC QUOTES - WORDS TO INSPIRE THE FAITHFUL Of all his virtues, Christ specifically commends one to us, humility. ‘Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart.’ —St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Save the date!!!  September 16th  a er 11AM Mass 

Please watch the bulle n for more informa on & sign ups. 

Thank you! August 19, 2018 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the conflict esca-lates in the Bread of Life Discourse. Confusion is mounting in the crowd. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Their minds were thinking literal-ly, not mystically. Jesus doesn’t seem to help, how-ever, and only drives his point home with more em-phasis. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” Jesus would later institute the Eucharist at the Last Supper. There he would definitively establish the sac-ramental reality in which bread and wine become substantially his own Body and Blood. We celebrate this sacrament in the Mass.

Perhaps we do not always understand what we receive. “My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” What is the essence of food and drink? Food nourishes our bodies, providing essential calories for our survival. Water is used throughout the body to cushion joints, regulate body temperature, and protect sensitive tissues like the brain. When we receive the Eucharist, we receive the spiritual equivalent of these essential elements. Like water, the Eucharist strengthens the sanctifying grace moving through us. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” The Eucharist connects us intimately to Jesus and confirms our union with him. That is why we abstain from the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin. It would be a contradiction and deep disrespect to these words of Jesus. To receive the Body and Blood of Jesus is not a right but a gift we receive with deep humility.

As we receive the Bread of Life, grace strengthens our love, separates us from sin — even wiping away venial sins — unifies us with the universal Church, and helps commit us to humble service. Together we are nourished for our mission in the world!

FROM THE DESK OF FATHER BOB

Do you know someone who needs pray-ers? Please contact Debbie Washington at 536-3616 or dlwashi@hotmail.com to place a name on the parish Prayer Chain! Boxes for requests are also located in the vestibules of our worship sites.

PRAYER CHAIN

Ryan Wood, Army; CDR. Nathan S. Brezovic, US Navy; Fr. Frantisek Hal-ka, Army; Major David Dietz, Army; Petty Officer Tony Pinkas, Navy; Sec-ond Infantry Brigade & Det 1, Compa-ny C, 2nd 104th; Navy Corpsman Mari-na J. Sumrada, Annapolis (MD) Naval Academy Hospital

Please contact the parish office (536-6818) if we need to add or re-move any of our military personnel from this list. Thank you.

PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE FOR

ALL SERVING IN THE MILITARY

PLEASE, if you have a loved one ad-mitted to the hospital or nursing home contact the office. The hospital may take your church information, but we are not always notified. Fr. Bob likes to get to the hospital in a timely man-ner, but cannot if he doesn’t know. Thanks for your help.

HOSPITALIZED

Unfortunately, the summer days have gone much too quickly, and I don’t feel refreshed and renewed. Nevertheless, it is time to begin a new season with the start of school and the end of vacation travel, with the schedule of “things to do” and places we “need to be”. I do have to admit that it was a quiet summer and getting back to a more scheduled daily routine is not nec-essarily a bad thing. Most of our younger parishioners will be returning to school within the next few weeks and the approaching Fall season is usually beautiful and refreshing. With the start of religious education, I will also be recruiting new altar servers. Students from the 3rd grade through the 11th grade are invited to the ministry of altar server at the weekend Masses at either or both worship sites. You get a much better view of things from the sanctuary and it is a great service rendered to me during the Eucharistic celebrations. Please consider joining the ranks, for some of our servers are on duty almost every weekend. Seniors in high school are also invited to become Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers. Please let me know if you are interested in one or both of these ministries at either worship site. Our monthly Fish Fry in Daisytown will begin with the first Friday of October. This is also a good opportunity for our high school students to earn service hours that are required by the diocese in our religious education programs. We have a wonderful reputation and I am con-stantly being told by our customers how much they appreciate the many young people of our parish who wait on tables and are always gracious and welcoming. Finally, our Catholic Ministries Drive for 2018 will soon be coming to a close for this year. We are still short of our parish goal by almost $9,000. If you have not contributed this year, please consider helping us meet this goal. If we do not make the goal, that money must come from our weekly offertory collection. If you have misplaced your card, there are additional cards in the vestibule of each worship site. Whatever help you might be able to give would certainly be appreciated. This money supports 14 ministries that are supported by our diocese. These ministries were published in last week’s bulletin. Whatever gift you might be able to give would enable us to use our offertory envelopes for the needs of our own parish, but the reality is that we do not exist without the diocese. They cannot offer the services they offer to the various ministries and services sponsored by the diocese, and we do not exist as a parish without the diocese. It is a win-win situation only if we work together! Please do what you can to help us meet that goal.

Catholic Ministries Drive 2018—by now you should have received your donation card for the 2018 Drive (blank cards can be found in the vestibule). I mailed your current statement with 2018 Catholic Ministry donations last week. ALL PAYMENTS should be made to Ss. Gregory & Barnabas Church. We will submit your card to the Diocese along with a check from the church according to what you gave. You are welcome to add more to your payment, please don’t hesitate to call Kristen at the office if you have ANY QUESTIONS—536-6818. This years goal is $21,446 as of April 17th we have received donor cards totaling $12,560.00. Several of you still have your donor cards/statement from the church—totaling $2,496.50. We are $8,886.50 shy of the goal requested by the Diocese. If you have misplaced your card please let me know there are extra cards in the vestibule. Please turn them into the office as soon as possible so that they are turned in in a timely manner in accordance to the Diocese request. Thank you! 100% of your gift supports 14 ministries like Lay Ecclesial Ministry Did you ever wonder what “ecclesial” means or even how to pronounce it? Ecclesial (ec·cle·si·al) means pertaining to the Church as the community of believers, with stress on their faith and union through love, and on the invisible operations of divine grace among the faithful. catholicculture.org A story of Faith, Hope & Charity... … in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God… 2 Corinthians 6:4 Lay Ecclesial Ministry allows men and women in our Diocese to deepen the influence of Christian faith in their lives by allowing them the opportunity to do extraordinary public service in parish life. Lay ministers are called to use their unique gifts and talents to encourage our faith and help build up the Church. Lay ecclesial ministers are co-workers in the ‘vineyard of the Lord’ with the bishop, priests and deacons. Preparation for this professional ministry in the Church takes both time and commitment—two to three years of theological education, study, prayer and prayer reflection; coupled with communica-tion, group dynamics skills and leadership training. Participants can earn Diocesan certification in Basic Lay Ecclesial Ministry with two years of study, while an additional year earns an Advanced Lay Ecclesial Ministry certification. Lay ministers are a vital part of parish communities serving in roles such as pastoral associates, or as directors of religious education, youth, liturgy and music. They can also serve in hospitals and health care settings, on college campuses and in prisons. “We need well-formed lay people, animated by a sincere and clear faith, whose life has been touched by the personal and merciful love of Christ Jesus,” said Pope Francis. Your support today of the Lay Ecclesial Ministry program will assist in the formation of lay people who have a missionary spirit. To learn more about becoming a lay minister visit ajdiocese.org/lay-ecclesial ministry; call 814-361-2000, or email Mary Beth Heinze at mheinze@dioceseaj.org

IN THE COMMUNITY:

St. John Gualbert & St Joseph Cemeteries—information needed: we are seeking internment information to properly care of the Holy Ground and Mausoleum of the Johnstown Cathe-dral’s two cemeteries. Our records for Saint Joseph Cemetery and Mausoleum are more detailed than those for Saint John Gualbert Cemetery. If you or family members have grave site(s), especially in Saint John Gualbert Cemetery, we very much ap-preciate your cooperation in providing us with interment infor-mation. Please contact Denny Heptner at the Saint John Gualbert Rectory (536-0117) or feel free to email him at sjgcathe-dral@outlook.com. Thank you for your help.

St. John’s Church Annual Picnic: held at New Germany Grove on August 26th 11:30AM to 7PM. Chicken & Ham Din-ner with homemade noodle soup from 11:30AM-3:30PM. Cruise in 2-4PM in the church parking lot. Entertainment scheduled from Noon to 7PM. Games for young and old, dancing, bingo food music and theme baskets! All are welcome!

FINANCIAL NEWS Fiscal Year July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019

Offertory Totals for the week of August 12, 2018

TV Proclaim $5

Catholic Register $40

Perquisites $350

Weekly Needs $5,000

8/12 $3,527

(Over/under) $1,473

Weekly Offering $2,889

Misc. Income $221

Votive Candles $77

Building Fund $168

Assumption $172

Total $3,527

CMD 2019: $172

Families and the Gospel August 19 John 6:51-58 In today’s gospel Jesus speaks of eating his flesh and blood. Parents can identify with this, for they often feel devoured by all the demands of family life. This is unavoidable for children grow in the soil of sacrificial love. Parenting is not part time work. It is a consuming lifetime commitment.

Everyday Stewardship We can easily feel obligated to attend a party, wed-

ding, or other event that we find ourselves invited to as a guest. If we want to go, then we get dressed up and rush off with an-ticipation of fun and good times with friends. If we dread going, we get ourselves together slowly and arrive late, hoping that the event will not be so long and we can then get on with the rest of our day. The difference in our feelings may have to do with many aspects: the host, the attendees, the reason for celebration, or even the venue. Either way, the invitation has been given to us because someone feels that our presence would make a positive difference. Our response is entirely our own. We decide how we will answer the invitation.

Every Sunday, every day in fact, you and I have received an invitation to a banquet more celebratory and grander than any wedding or birthday party. The host is actually Jesus Christ himself, and he has prepared a feast that promises to satisfy. He has prepared for this event by giving all he has to give. No host has ever been more gracious. His hope is that you will be happy to attend for your presence does make a tremendous difference. Would he invite you if attending made no difference at all? Will you RSVP with a sense of joy and anticipation? If this is just another invite that obligates you and you approach the event with indifference, the host wonders if you really comprehend what he went through to make this meal possible. He also wonders if you really understand what is truly being celebrated. —Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

LAY MINISTRY SCHEDULE

Liturgy August 18/19 August 25/26 11AM

4PM Lector: D. Stroz D EM: B P. Harteis P. Harteis

(B: Bread) (C: Cup)

C J. Pribish L. Menett C D. Stroz

Servers: 8AM Lector: Rozum Moot BA EM: B Rozum Moot

C B. McPherson Moot C

Servers: Rozum 10AM Lector: S. Rosenbaum

D EM: B B. Sweeney M. Krawczyk Mass

Changes back to

11AM on Aug 26,2018

C S. Rosenbaum

C R. Rosenbaum

Servers:

September 1/2

MB D-Rykala MB D-Rykala

M. Krawczyk

The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona is conducting tours during the month of September. This is the month in which the Cathedral was for-mally dedicated in 1931. Parishes and groups from throughout the Diocese are invited to come for a one-hour guided tour. Plan to take part in one of these tours during September. Please call the Parish Office 814-536-6818 for further information.

WHY DO WE DO THAT? - CATHOLIC LIFE EXPLAINED Question: Why do we have a feast for the Queenship of Mary? Answer: For many of us, the language of kings and queens may seem like they belong to history or a medieval movie. Royalty have absolute authority over a kingdom and their subjects, a concept that is foreign to many of us today. While Jesus doesn’t rule a political kingdom, we honor and recognize him as the King of Kings, Lord of Heaven and Earth. To God alone belongs absolute authority over all of existence. We may think of queens as the spouse of the king, but there is another key relationship: the king’s mother. In Biblical history, we see instances where the mother of the king is given due as a queen herself, complete with a throne! Mary’s guiding influ-ence over her Son is seen most notably in the Wedding Feast at Cana. Mary is not Queen on her own merit. She is “full of grace” and “blessed” in “all ages” because of the reign of her Son.