Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh

The Crèche

CAMPAIGN DONORS SUPPORT PITTSBURGH CRÈCHE

Sacrificial gifts from more than 44,000 families and individuals are helping save a local Christmas tradition—the Pittsburgh Crèche.

The board of directors of Our Campaign for The Church Alive!, Inc. approved a $50,000 evangelization grant toward the annual cost to assemble, maintain and take down the 30-ton structure, the world’s only authorized replica of the Nativity Crèche that Pope John Paul II commissioned for the Vatican.

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Bishop David Zubik, Rev. Edward Yuhas (left) and Rev. Paul Grunebach lead the groundbreaking for the hall expansion at Ave Maria Parish. (Chuck Austin photo)

KNIGHTS’ BEQUEST BENEFITS PARISH

Since the 19th century, the Knights of Columbus have promoted the principles of charity, unity and fraternity.

A significant gift from the Bentleyville Ellsworth Council 5826 demonstrates how they live out those beliefs.

The Knights have donated their council hall in Bentleyville to Ave Maria Parish through Our Campaign for The Church Alive! The building will be expanded to provide space for faith formation, receptions for baptisms, first Holy Communions and weddings, parish dances and dinners, and help promote evangelization in the community.

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Stocked up for their parish picnic. (L-R) Judy Lee, Rev. Steve Kresak, Rita Woods and seminarian Joe Uzar.

CAMPAIGN HELPING PARISHES JOIN TOGETHER

When the members of four neighboring parishes were challenged to work together with their clergy to revitalize Catholic ministry in their aging communities, they knew they would need assistance.

A grant from the non-profit volunteer board of Our Campaign for the Church Alive!, Inc. will help support pastoral ministry and community building at St. Basil and St. Wendelin in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood, St. Norbert in Overbrook and St. Albert the Great in Baldwin. The parishes are served by two priests, three deacons and a pastoral associate.

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ROSELIA PROGRAM TEACHES ‘BABY STEPS’ TO NEW MOMS

Catholic Charities is helping homeless pregnant women and new mothers to look beyond simply finding their next meal and putting a roof over their heads. Progress is slow but steady.

You could say they’re taking baby steps.

The pro-life Roselia Pregnancy and Parenting Support program has transitioned from a fully-staffed center in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood to downtown apartments that house up to 11 women and their babies.

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TAKING PRIESTLY VOCATIONS TO THE ‘NEXT LEVEL’

Inspired in part by their own pastor’s story of conversion, the people of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Munhall are helping men respond to God’s call to the priesthood.

A convert at age 19 and ordained just 13 years later, Father Terry O’Connor credits the power of prayer in leading him to become a priest.

“There’s a tremendous amount of secularism out there, but Jesus can work through that,” Father O’Connor said. “Men need to take time in quiet prayer with the Lord to learn their vocation.”

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An artist's rendering of the future St. Kilian church

ST. KILIAN PARISHIONERS READY TO COME HOME

Nearly a century after celebrating their first Mass in a meeting hall and changing worship sites in recent years due to rapid growth, St. Kilian Parish again will have a church to call their own.

Groundbreaking was held July 4 for a new church located next to the St. Kilian grade school and parish center in Cranberry Township.  Plans call for completion in about 18 months, in time to mark the parish centennial in 2017.

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Father Frank Almade

PROGRESS IN OUR PARISHES

Our Campaign for The Church Alive! has reached a significant milestone in addressing extraordinary needs across the Diocese of Pittsburgh—more than $20 million now has been distributed to parishes for projects and programs.

The goal of the campaign is to help sustain and strengthen parishes, invigorate evangelization, revitalize sacramental life, support education and formation in the faith, train clergy and lay leaders, and serve the poor and marginalized.

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