Parish Clergy Rev. Louis F. Vallone Rev. Regis J. Ryan Rev. Robert J. Zajdel Deacon Leonard Thomas Staff Mr. John Fatula, Director of Religious Ed. Ms. Elna Johnson, Director of Music Mrs. Mary Ann Jones, Director of Finances Mrs. Janice Lipa, Parish Secretary Mr. Wayne Summers, Maintenance Supervisor Safe Environment Coordinator Mr. John Fatula, Parish and Sunday School www.sjogparish.com www.news.va/en (Vatican News)

Parish Office/Residence ............................... 412-771-5646 Parish Fax ..................................................... 412-331-0678 Deacon Leonard Thomas.............................. 412-812-4557 Religious Education (Sunday School).......... 412-331-8501 Religious Education Fax..............................412-331-8500 Music Ministry..........................................412-812-4549 Bingo (Social Hall/Mother of Sorrows).......... 412-331-8530 Cemeteries (St. Mark’s/St. Mary’s).......... 412-331-1309 Pizza Kitchen (Fridays) ........................... 412-331-8530

~ Low Gluten Hosts Available For Communion ~ ~ See Priest Before Mass ~ Saturday Vigil ..................... 4:30 PM Church - (St. Mary)

Sunday ................................................... 7:30 AM Church 9:30 AM Chapel - (Mother of Sorrows) 11:30 AM Church Weekday Schedule Monday–Friday ....................................... 9:30 AM Church Confessions: Saturday 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM and 5:30 PM Infant Baptism: Call office to schedule.

Adult Baptism: The R.C.I.A. program sees to the needs of adults who wish to become Catholic.

Reconciliation (Confession):    3:30 PM to 4:15 PM (Church) and following the 4:30 PM Mass (Church) and by appointment.

Holy Eucharist: Available for those who are sick and confined to home. Call the Parish Office and we will bring the Eucharist to you.

Anointing of the Sick: Available for those who are seriously ill or anticipating surgery after the 7:30 AM Mass every Sunday at the Church at St. Mary’s, and by request.

Marriage: Anyone who wishes to marry should contact the Office at least six months prior to the desired date.

Inactive Catholics: Are lovingly welcome back to the faith. New Parishioners are joyfully invited to join our community. Please call the Parish Office.

CHURCH: 1011 Church Ave • CHAPEL: One Desiderio Way, McKees Rocks, PA 15136

Celebration of the Sacraments

Mass Schedule

Office Telephones OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING • NOVEMBER 20, 2016

ST. JOHN OF GOD PARISH MCKEES ROCKS, PA OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING MASS INTENTIONS Saturday, Nov. 19 to Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016

Saturday Vigil, Nov. 19: 4:30 PM Church Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation Sunday, Nov. 20: 7:30 AM Church Thomas Pelkington, Jr. (Lillian) Sunday, Nov. 20: 9:30 AM Chapel Anniv - William Worms (Wife & Family) Sunday, Nov. 20: 11:30 AM Church Parish Family of Saint John of God _______________________________________________

WEEKDAYS — 9:30 AM CHURCH Monday, Nov. 21: Eugene J. Ritter (Maureen O’Donovan) Tuesday, Nov. 22: Edward Bagay (Ann Tkacik) Tuesday, Nov. 22: St. Anthony Novena Prayers recited following the 9:30 AM Mass in St. Mary’s Church. Wednesday, Nov 23: Mary C. Parish (Son, John & Wife, Carol) Thanksgiving Day, 9:30 AM, Church Thursday, Nov. 24: Parish Family Friday, Nov. 25: Joseph Orlich (Family) Friday, Nov. 25: Mother of Sorrows Novena Prayers recited following the 9:30 AM Mass in St. Mary’s Church _______________________________________________ Saturday Vigil, Nov. 26: 4:30 PM Church Anniv - Steve Tomsko (Family) Sunday, Nov. 27: 7:30 AM Church Edward Fijewski (SJOG Friend) Sunday, Nov. 27: 9:30 AM Chapel Dominic DiNardo (Family) Sunday, Nov. 27: 11:30 AM Church Samuel Sleva (Carol)

AN OPEN INVITATION OF WELCOME Non-Catholics and non-parishioners are always

welcomed guests. Inactive, unsure or irregular Catholics are lovingly

encouraged to reconnect with the Faith. New parishioners are joyfully received in our

community. Please call the parish office. Our hearts are large and there is plenty good

room for all. �����������

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION Bishop William J. Winter will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation for those who have been preparing for this important sacra-ment this Saturday, Nov. 19, in Saint John of God Parish during the 4:30 P.M. Mass in St. Mary’s Church.

Readings for the Week of November 20, 2016 Sunday: 2 Sm 5:1-3/Ps 122:1-5/Col 1:12-20/ Lk 23:35-43 Monday: Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5/Ps 24:1-6/Lk 21:1-4 Tuesday: Rv 14:14-19/Ps 96:10-13/Lk 21:5-11 Wednesday: Rv 15:1-4/Ps 98:1-3, 7-9/Lk 21:12-19 Thursday: Rv 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a/Ps 100:1-5/ Lk 21:20-28 Friday: Rv 20:1-4, 11--21:2/Ps 84:3-6, 8/ Lk 21:29-33 Saturday: Rv 22:1-7/Ps 95:1-7/Lk 21:34-36 Next Sunday: Is 2:1-5/Ps 122:1-9/Rom 13:11-14/ Mt 24:37-44

BAPTISMAL PROGRAM FOR NEW AND EXPECTING PARENTS

The next class will be held on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 1:30 to 4 P.M. in the Chapel at Mother of Sorrows. For more information or to register, please call John Fatula at 412-331-8501.

MASS ON THANKSGIVING DAY AND

FOOD COLLECTION FOR THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR

As we gather for the celebration of the Eucharist on Thanksgiving Day, this Thursday, Nov. 24, 9:30 AM in the Church at St. Mary’s, we ask you to bring a gift of non-perishable food (large

size cans and boxes are preferred) or paper prod-ucts to be brought up as your offering at Mass. These items will be given to the Little Sisters of the Poor to help them in their ministry to the elderly. We thank you in advance.

EARLY BULLETIN DEADLINE: Please Note that due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, the BULLETIN for November 27, 2016 has already been submitted to our bulletin company.

Saint John of God, Pray for us.

ST. JOHN OF GOD PARISH MCKEES ROCKS, PA � QUOTE FROM THE POPE �

“We love this magnificent planet on which God has put us, and we love the human family which dwells here, with all its tragedies and struggles, its hopes and aspirations, its strengths and weaknesses.” Pope Francis

YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS Need service hours? Just like helping others? There are a variety of service opportunities available through the Youth Ministry Office for teens in grades 8-12. For more information contact Mr. Swank at 412-771-7480 or swankymca@gmail.com.

Due to early transmission of this bulletin, the attendance and offertory for the weekend of November 12/13 will be published next week.

ALSO

The winners of the Steeler vs. Cowboys game on November 13 will be published next week.

THANKSGIVING BREAD As we have done the past few years, a service project for our Confirmation Candidates is to make the Thanksgiving bread. The bread will be brought to Mass on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, to be blessed and given to each family attending Mass.

The Rosary is prayed at 9:00 AM before the 9:30 AM Mass Monday through Friday in St. Mary’s Church. THE WEEK AHEAD Nov. 22 (Tues.) - St. Anthony Novena Prayers recited following the 9:30 AM Mass in St. Mary’s Church. Nov. 23 - NO WEDNESDAY NIGHT BINGO Bingo will resume next Wednesday, Nov. 30. Nov. 25 (Fri.) - Mother of Sorrows Novena Prayers recited following 9:30 AM Mass, St. Mary’s Church. Nov. 25 (Fri.) - PIZZA KITCHEN CLOSED.

CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING The Parish Office will be closed on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24 & Friday, Nov. 25. Please hold all calls until Monday, Nov. 28 unless it is an emergency. Happy Thanksgiving! There will be no CCD classes on Sunday, Nov. 20 due to the celebration of Confirmation next Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 27 due to Thanksgiving. Classes will resume for all students on Sunday, Dec. 4. The Pizza Kitchen will be closed on Friday, Nov. 25. We will reopen the following Friday, Dec. 2. and it will be FALAGONE FRIDAY!

THANKSGIVING One act of thanksgiving, when things go wrong with us, is worth a thousand thanks when things are agreeable to our inclinations. — Saint John of Avila

HOSPITAL Please pray for all parishioners who are in the hospital, especially Jim Adams (Shadyside). Also for all those ill at home, in nursing homes, and shut-ins; that they may continue to receive the Lord’s Blessings.

SYMPATHY We wish to extend our sympathy to the Family of Grace Habay and Michael Vermeulen whom God has called home. Please remember them and our dearly departed and their Families in your prayers. “May the Choirs of Angels receive them, and may they with the once poor Lazarus, have rest everlasting.”

PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER This week’s issue (Nov. 18) of the Pittsburgh Catho-lic newspaper was mailed to every registered house-hold in the Diocese. No bulk copies are available in the Church or Chapel this weekend. If you did not receive a Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper please call the parish office.

SANCTUARY CANDLE - WEEK OF NOVEMBER 20 ST. MARY’S - IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH ORLICH BY FAMILY Mother of Sorrows - PARISH FAMILY OF SAINT JOHN OF GOD

Please keep our Priests, Seminarians, Deacons and all Religious in your prayers.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING NOVEMBER 20, 2016

CHOIR NEWS The St. John of God Adult Choir schedule for the month of November, 2016 is:

Saturday, November 19, 4:30 P.M. Mass (Celebrating Christ the King and Confirmation)

Saturday, November 26, 4:30 P.M. (1st week of Advent)

THANKSGIVING DAY

November 24, 9:30 A.M. The Choir sings a Choral Presentation of anthems for approximately 10-15 minutes as prelude to each of their scheduled Masses. The Choir will present a 30 minute prelude before the Confirmation and Thanksgiving Day Masses. Everyone is encouraged to arrive early for Masses with Choir to pray, meditate and listen to the prelude of seasonal anthems.

ANGEL TREE Beginning this weekend, Nov. 19/20, we will once again have an Angel Tree in the Church at St. Mary’s and the Chapel at Mother of Sorrows as a sign that St. John of God Parish is a caring community.

Here is how the Angel Tree works: 1. Come to the tree and take an Angel ornament.

Purchase and wrap the gift in Christmas paper. No bows please. Save the Angel and after wrapping the gift, attach the Angel to the outside of the gift. This ensures proper delivery to the person.

2. When you have filled the request, come back to the tree with your tagged gift and place the wrapped gift under the tree. We ask that all gifts be returned by Saturday / Sunday, December 10 / 11. It is very important that the gifts be returned by these dates! Thank you! If possible, bring your gift back to the same tree at the same Church that you took it from and with the same Angel attached. We thank you in advance for your continued generosity to those in need.

Win FREE Bingo Admission for ONE YEAR! That’s right, our THIRTEENTH ANNUAL BINGO BONANZA!

This year we are, once again, giving away a Bingo Pass for the entire year of 2017. After taking the week of November 23RD off to enjoy your Thanksgiv-ing celebrations - join us for Bingo on the following Wednesdays – NOVEMBER 30, DECEMBER 7, DECEMBER 14, DECEMBER 21, DECEMBER 28 and JANUARY 4. To be eligible for this spec-tacular give-a-way make sure you play bingo on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Each Bingo player will receive their registration card that evening. Our doors open at 5:00 PM each week with Early Birds playing at 7:00! Our One-Year Free Admission Prize will be awarded on Wednesday, January 4, 2017. To be eligible for this fabulous prize, you must have registered and played Bingo with us on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 and then play bingo with us THREE of the FOUR Wednesdays in December (December 7, 14, 21 or 28) and then be present and play Bingo with us on January 4, 2017 to win! Come join us for lots of fun and win some extra Christmas cash. Please note this promotion begins the last Wednesday in November 2016 and will end on January 4, 2017. See you at the Bingo!

Kindly remember Saint John of God Parish in your will.

ADVENT EVENING OF REFLECTION The Ladies of Charity of Saint John of God Parish invites everyone to an Advent Evening of Reflection with Sister Althea Anne Spencer as the Presenter on Thursday, December 1, in the Gathering Place at 7:00 P.M. Everyone is welcome.

THANK YOU The Ladies of Charity wishes to thank all those who donated cosmetic bags and personal care/hygiene items for the residents of personal care homes and nursing homes. Your help in this ministry of helping the elderly is very much appreciated!

PARENTING POINTERS by Susan Vogt November 20 is the feast of Christ the King, but Jesus rejected kingship and modeled “servant lead-ership.” Kings have armies and thus power to enforce what they want. Servants excel in listening and seek to serve others’ needs. Good leaders inspire. Talk with your children about the difference between a King, a Servant, and a Leader. ~©2016 by Susan Vogt, www.SusanVogt.net

ST. JOHN OF GOD PARISH MCKEES ROCKS, PA Members of our On Mission Team: Tom Adams, Joe Horgan, Sandy Horgan, Alice Kilonsky, Donna Spohn, and Bill Stropkaj. The planning initiative continues in

the essential phase of consultation. Parishioners are learning about changes taking place in our commu-nities and the Church of Pittsburgh. They’re also giving feedback on draft models of potential groupings of parishes that come together to form new parishes. NO DECISIONS have been made regarding any models; that is why your feedback is so important. Information about the draft models are available at OnMissionChurchAlive.org.

ATTENTION PARISHIONERS Information packets and Feedback forms concerning On Mission for the Church Alive! are available in the lobby of the main entrance of the Church and at the parish office. Please pick up these resources and TAKE THE TIME TO FILL IT OUT! Completed feedback forms can be dropped off at the parish of-fice or in the collection basket. Although the forms aren’t technically DUE until the first of December, please plan to have them back to the parish office by the end of November. Please be proactive in the up-coming months and pray for solutions to keep our Parish open and alive in the McKees Rocks area!

STEEPLE CHASE SUPER BOWL POOL Super Bowl Sunday is February 5, 2017. Again, we are offering two options for the Super Bowl pool. One will cost: $35 the other will cost $100. There are 100 blocks in each pool.

$35 pool will have a total payment of $1,700 : $100 1st qtr., $500 half time, $100 3rd qtr. and $1,000 final.

$100 pool will have a total payment of $5,000: $500 1st qtr., $1000 half time,

$500 3rd qtr. and $3,000 final.

For the $100 pool only you will get 4 sets of numbers ~ a different set of numbers for each quarter. The names and numbers for each pool will be randomly drawn in advance. You will receive a copy of your completed pool prior to the Super bowl. Don’t be left out. Purchase a square for yourself or partner with a friend. Consider buying some as Christmas or birthday gifts. Name your block and fill out the form below. Questions?? Please call Terry at 412-331-3443 �——————————————————————

SUPER BOWL POOL PLEASE PRINT, FILL OUT COMPLETELY, DROP IN COLLEC-TION BASKET (SJOG OR SCAT - MARK ENVELOPE “SUPER BOWL”) OR PARISH OFFICE MAIL SLOT, OR MAIL TO: SJOG PARISH, “SUPER BOWL POOL,” 1011 CHURCH AVE., MCKEES ROCKS, PA 15136. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO ST. JOHN OF GOD PARISH. QUESTIONS??? CALL TERRY AT 412-331-3443 . _____Square(s) @$35/square ($1,700 payout) =$______ (AMOUNT ENCLOSED) ____Square(s) @$100/square ($5,000 payout) =$______ (AMOUNT ENCLOSED)

(PLEASE PRINT) I would like to name my square(s) __________________

_____________________________________________ Name ________________________________________ Full Address w/ZIP ______________________________ ______________________________________________ Phone _______________________________________

CHRISTMAS CONCERT Join the Sisters of St. Joseph, choir members from St. Damien of Molokai, and friends for an “In a Manger Lowly” Concert on Sunday, December 4, at 2:00 P.M. in the Sisters’ chapel in Baden. The Ad-vent-Christmas Concert will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Sisters’ beloved carol, In a Manger Lowly. Concert/reception tickets, at $40 each, are limited. To purchase tickets, commemorative items, or spon-sorships, or for more info, visit www.bit.ly’InAManger or call 824-869-6574.

NORTH POLE EXPRESS ADVENTURE The Holy Trinity Knights of Columbus will host the North Pole Express Adventure on Friday, December 19. It is a live performance by Stage Right! Com-pany based on the movie The Polar Express. Tickets at the door are $5 per person. Hot chocolate and cookies served at 5:30 P.M. Performance begins at 7:00 P.M. For more information please call 412-787-3853.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING NOVEMBER 20, 2016

THANKSGIVING DAY BLESSING

O God of all things in heaven and on earth, you give all your people in the world the gift of life, the gift of family, the gift of work, and the gift of rest. On this, our national day of Thanksgiv-

ing, we turn all our thoughts to you, from whom all blessings flow. Bless all our work, our friends, and our families both near and far. We humbly ask for the ability to continue our work for your kingdom and the ability to gather freely to worship you without fear. We ask you to give our years ahead your blessing and protection. We ask all this through Christ the Lord, your Son and our brother. Amen.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." The two thieves that were crucified next to Jesus show two very different ways of understanding who Jesus was.

The first thief insulted Jesus, prodded him, mocked him. He didn't believe that Jesus had any power what-soever. Like the sneering crowds, he thought that it was a joke to label Jesus as the "King of the Jews." But the second thief, known in tradition as "the good thief," had a different perception. He understood that Jesus did in fact have power because, as Jesus had told Pilate only hours earlier, his kingdom "is not of this world." The good thief understood that the kingdom of God awaits those who believe in the Lord. And when this man made that final act of faith on his own cross, Jesus promised him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Today as we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King, we are challenged to have as much faith as the good thief. We are challenged to believe that Jesus is in fact the "King of the Universe," even when it may not appear that way to those who stand by sneering. Jesus did not choose to hop down off the cross and make everything cheery. Instead he fulfilled his mission for an end result that was infinitely better than simply saving himself and those two thieves; by dying on the cross, he saved us all! So we too need to trust that just because Jesus doesn't always answer our prayers exactly how we want or expect, and just because we find ourselves carrying a cross from time to time, it does not mean he isn't in charge! On the contrary, we need to trust, as the good thief did, that Jesus' mission is to bring all of us to join him in his heavenly kingdom.

CHRISTMAS DISCERNMENT RETREAT Fr. Joe Freedy and Fr. Mike Ackerman, along with Fr. Brian Welding and Fr. Brian Noel, will be leading a retreat for men who are seeking to know their vo-cation and to learn more about discerning a vocation to the Priesthood, from Friday, December 16, 7:00 P.M. - Sunday, December 18, 11:00 A.M. at Gilmary Retreat Center. The weekend will include Mass with Bishop Zubik, Adoration, opportunities for Confes-sion, conferences, and solid brotherhood. No Cost. Must be 18 or older. For more information or to reg-ister, please visit www.pghpriest.com.

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will once again host a Thanksgiving Eve Service for the community on Wednesday, November 23 at 7:00 P.M. You are asked to bring cans or packages of non-perishable food for the food bank. For more information please call Good Shepherd parish office at 412-771-1993.

HIGH SCHOOL SILENT RETREAT God is alive and we believe that He speaks to us. At this men’s High School Silent Retreat, we are going to give God the time and space to speak to our hearts about our lives and our vocations. The retreat will be led by Fr. Mike Ackerman and Fr. Joe Freedy at The Arc and The Dove Retreat House, January 14-15, 2017. For more information or to register, visit PGHPriest.com.

THE LIGHT IS ON FOR YOU! This year in every parish across the Diocese of Pitts-burgh, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be avail-able on Wednesday, December 14, from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. At Saint John of God we will begin at 6:30 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. Consider making a com-mitment this Advent to experience the healing grace of God’s forgiveness and love.

ST. JOHN OF GOD PARISH MCKEES ROCKS, PA PASTOR'S CORNER Fr. Lou Vallone

Several years ago in the Sacrament of Penance (i.e., while I was hearing someone's confession), the gentleman expressed concern over the sin of "bad language". Now, the third commandment does enjoin us against using the name of the Lord in vain, but he was referring more to vulgar words, scatological language, monosyllabic Anglo-Saxisms: in short, four letter words. I explained that this was less a moral issue than one of respect. Since usually our language becomes a pattern, a habit, and since in this particular case it often arises from impatience or anger, I advised him to try the tactic of substituting some innocuous, inoffensive words for the ones he had been using. It is less difficult to substitute a harmless habit for a detrimental one than it is to banish habit altogether, so I offered absolution with this helpful hint. Some months later he returned to the confessional and gave me a report on his progress. He had decided to substitute the phrase "thank you!" for another less edifying explicative. When a driver on the road would exasperate him with a bonehead stunt, he would holler "thank you!" When someone at work would get on his last nerve with unwarranted criticism, he would reply "thank you!" When a neighbor or stranger would offer some verbal insult, he would retort "thank you!" When an unwieldy piece of equipment would frustrate his efforts to accomplish some work, he would ejaculate the phrase in the hearing of others "thank you!" In each of these instances, the emotional tone and tenor would be the same as before, but the words changed radically. And so did his outlook on life! He explained that the new verbal habit made him more comfortable with himself, but even more gratifying was the effect it had on other people and his relation with them. Angry conditions were diffused by the shock of the unaccustomed phrase. Fights that

could have broken out were often short-circuited by bursts of laughter. Tense circumstances become relaxed, and even his frustration level had dropped by the "silliness" of the situation put in the perspective of his response. When I was a child, I was taught that "thank you" was among the magic words in life. With Thanksgiving coming up this week, we all know that individually and collectively we have much to be thankful for, and we will express that at the Church of St. Mary at St. John of God Parish with a 9:30 AM Family Mass on Thursday, Nov. 24, and at St. Catherine of Siena Parish with a 6:30 PM Mass on Wednesday, Nov. 23. At both celebrations, we will bless and distribute bread baked by our own Confirmation students, have a collection of foodstuffs and money for the less fortunate, and most of all we will celebrate with the Eucharist, the paradigm of all Thanksgiving. This is all self-apparent. But in line with the experience of my penitent, I want to take this opportunity to say to all my friends and enemies, to all who have been good and bad to me, to all who have aided and attacked me, to all who have pleased and frustrated me, to all who complimented and offended me:

"THANK YOU, one and all!"

St. John of God Parish Membership Form

Name __________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________ City _________________________ Zip _________ Phone _______________

CHECK ONE: � New Registration � Change of Address � Moving out of Parish � Want Envelopes

Please drop Membership Form into the offertory basket or mail to Rectory.

Diocesan Victim Assistance Hotline 1-888-808-1235