Healthy Spirit, Mind & Body Magazine

HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND & BODY MAGAZINE

Career-long fight against cancer | Too blessed to be stressedwww.pittsburghcatholic.org

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HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND & BODY MAGAZINE

201420142014Summer Fun &Recreation GuideSummer Fun &Recreation Guide

Plus

To purchase tickets call 412.392.4900 or visit pittsburghsymphony.org

Title Sponsor

01 Two TripsSeptember 19 – 21

Manfred Honeck, conductor

Valentina Lisitsa, piano

Bates: Rusty Air in Carolina (Pittsburgh Symphony Premiere)

Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody ona Theme of Paganini, Opus 43

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique,Opus 14

02 A Night in SpainOctober 10 – 12

Omer Meir Wellber, conductor (Debut)

Pablo Sáinz Villegas, guitar (Debut)

Debussy: Petite suite

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra

Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony,Opus 58

03 Divine TravelOctober 24 & 26

Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor

Lorna McGhee, fl ute

Grieg: Excerpts from Peer Gynt,Opus 46 and Opus 55

Nielsen: Concerto for Flute and Orchestra

Sibelius: Symphony No. 5in E-fl at major, Opus 82

04The Isle of the DeadOctober 31 – November 2

Juraj Valcuha, conductor

Nicola Benedetti, violin

Rachmaninoff: The Isle of the Dead,Opus 29

Szymanowski: Concerto No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 35 (Pittsburgh Symphony Premiere)

Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Opus 44

05Thanksgiving with Igudesman and JooNovember 28 & 30

Manfred Honeck,conductor

Aleksey Igudesman, violin (Debut)

Hyung-ki Joo, piano (Debut)

Melding prodigious musicaltalent with comedy, Igudesmanand Joo expand their duo showto a full orchestra presentationfeaturing uproarious sketchesand stunning solos.

2014-2015BNY MELLON GRAND CLASSICS SEASON

14SYM229_PittsburghCatholicAd_8x10.5_FINAL.indd 1 6/18/14 5:16 PM

Inside this issue:

8pg 135 First Ave. • Suite 200Pittsburgh, PA 15222

1-800-392-4670www.pittsburghcatholic.org

Vol. 6, No. 1

Publisher | Bishop David A. Zubik

General Manager | Ann Rodgers

Editor | William Cone

Operations Manager | Carmella Weismantle

Healthy Spirit, Mind & Body Project Editor John W. Franko

Associate EditorsPhil Taylor (Special Projects)

Chuck Moody (News)

Staff Writer | John W. Franko

Graphic DesignersDavid Pagesh | Karen Hanlin

Advertising Director Carmella Weismantle

Account ExecutivesMichael A. Check | Paul Crowe

Michael Wire

Circulation Mgr./Parish News Coord.Peggy Zezza

Administrative Assistant | Marcie Cromwell

Office Assistant | Karen Hanlin

�

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Pittsburgh Catholic Healthy Spirit, Mind & Body is a complimentary publication available at all 199 Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh from the Pittsburgh Catholic Publishing Associates, Inc. Paid first-class delivered subscriptions are available.

~Acceptance of an advertisement in the Pittsburgh Catholic Magazine, while based on an assumption of integrity on the part of the advertiser, does not imply endorsement by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

201420142014 Summer Fun &Recreation GuideSummer Fun &Recreation Guide 20

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G4 |“Everything’s copacetic!”Find ways to combat stress by counting the blessings in your life.

6|Blogger’s delight:A writer finds her experience of spirituality has been enhanced by blogging.

8|Thirty-five years of research:Dr. Aleem Gangjee wants to stop the dreaded disease of cancer in its tracks.

10|Wellness journey:Make deliberate changes to improve your holistic health.

11|A helpful hand:How one teen managed to go from rock bottom to new heights.

12|Caseworker’s true story:After retiring all he wanted was to be remembered as “someone who cared.”

13|Warriors to Lourdes:Military personnel converge on Lourdes, a sacred place for healing.

14|A noble gesture:Those who donate organs to save others exemplify humanity’s best.

18|Dealing with loss:A foundation helps kids get through their grief after losing a loved one.

13pg

4 Pittsburgh Catholic Magazine Healthy Spirit, Mind & Body 2014

By PEGGY ZEZZA

“To Blessed to be stressed” are words my neighbor wrote in little pebbles across his yard. Every year he changes the words, which always relate to God and faith. I was personally affected by his words this year because it offers a chance to remember the blessings in life that can be forgotten when life gets too rushed and stressed.

Listed among the top medical conditions in the United States is stress. Although stress alone cannot cause a condition, it is a major contributor to worsening many health conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, asthma, auto immune conditions and just about any ailment. In addition, it causes severe depression, memory problems, insomnia and much more.

News continually report on study results indicating stress is on the rise in today’s society. A recent Carnegie Mellon University study showed that stress increased 10-30 percent in all demographic categories during the last three decades.

Doctors suggest things to combat stress, including, rest, eating healthy and exercise. One remedy medical experts don’t always

mention is counting our blessings and learning to appreciate them.

Family and friends. Psychologists and even medical doctors will tell you that a support system is as important as medicine in helping cope with mental and physical ailments. Although family and friends can contribute to stress, they are also a blessing from God.

Feeling loved is important to mental well-being and gives one confidence. Maybe God blesses you with a supporting spouse, a parent, a child or your best friend forever (bff). It is important to have a “go to” person to help one cope. Also, they bring laughs and great memories that can aid us in our stressed-filled days. Times with family and friends can bring us more joy than money, a vacation or a piece of jewelry. Remember to thank God for the gift of them in your life because they are not only a support system, they show us unconditional love.

Home. The size of our house or the worth of its furnishings are not what makes a home a

blessing. It is having a roof over your head and a place to relax, enjoying the company of loved ones and finding comfort. It is a place of happy memories and significant events, like where your child took their first steps or a holiday celebration. A home is a blessing in which, when you arrive there, should give comfort and peace.

Nature. Mother Nature can be a cause of stress in our lives, for example, the 2014 bitterly cold winter. Yet, the gift of this beautiful earth God has given us can offer more blessings than stress. A sunny day can brighten our mood and make us feel better than any pill. You can look to the beauty of newly fallen snow and the silence it brings to find moments of peace.

We encounter so many noises in one day, traffic, voices, music and more, that sometimes

it is calming to hear just the sounds of nature, like the birds chirping or water from a nearby stream. A great stress reliever is a walk outside to take in the beauty of the trees and flowers God has gifted to us. It is good to sometimes “stop and smell the roses.”

Faith. A powerful blessing in life is our faith. We can find comfort in Jesus, whom God sent to us. Prayer is another blessing. We can find comfort

in the meditative rosary or other forms of prayer. Also, the prayers of others can comfort us. Reading the Bible is a blessing that can help us slow down and take time to think. The blessing of a parish family is another faith-based blessing. Having friends and a community to worship cannot only give us support, but give us a place of hospitality and sense of friendship.

I am grateful to my neighbor for reminding me to take time to count the blessings in my life. Every day while driving past the house I think of one blessing and say a prayer of gratitude to God. Maybe it is time spent with a niece or nephew, a laugh with a friend, a meal shared with my mother, the birthday celebration with my sisters, or just another day to be alive.

Stress can come easy for me, but now I constantly remember those words, “too blessed to be stressed”

Zezza is circulation manager, parish news coordinator at Pittsburgh Catholic Publishing Associates.

A Forest Hills resident inspired this article with his front yard design (shown above). Blessings can include home, nature and family (which is shown to the right featuring the author, left, and her four siblings.

HOUSES OF PRAYER & RETREAT HOUSESMount Saint Macrina House of Prayer 724-438-7149 • E-mail: [email protected]

Saint Emma Retreat House 724-834-3060 • Web Site: www.stemma.orgE-mail: [email protected]

Saint Emma Monastic Guest House 724-834-3060 • Web Site: www.stemma.orgE-mail: [email protected]

Epiphany Association/Epiphany Academy 412-341-7494 • 1-877-324-6873 (Toll Free)Web site: www.epiphanyassociation.orgE-mail: [email protected]

Bishop William G. Connare Center 724-834-7350 Web Site: www.bishopconnarecenter.org E-mail: [email protected] OR [email protected]

Franciscan Spirit and Life Center 412-881-9207 • E-mail: [email protected]

Gilmary Center 412-264-8400Web Site: www.gilmarycenter.orgE-mail: [email protected] Flaherty, Director, x202Lilli Wolfe, Administration and Scheduling, x201

HOUSES OF PRAYER & RETREAT HOUSES

See Prayer, Page 6

Healthy Spirit, Mind & Body 2014 Pittsburgh Catholic Magazine 5

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By SANDY OZANICH

I started blogging a couple ofyears ago because I felt I wanted a place to put my poems. Blogging comes in many styles and subjects. Whatever someone is interested in can be blogged about. My interests lie in spirituality and drawing closer to God.

Knowing there were many others blogging was a bit intimidating, but I continued to work on what would become “Sandy’s Hopeful Room” — a place for “Hope, Joy, Insight and Surviving Life’s Hurts” (www.sandyshopefulroom.com).

It was a gutsy thing to do, but I wondered who would want to read them? What I found is there are many people out there; bloggers and others who do like to read what we have to say. I found wonderful people who shared my insights and thoughts about God, spirituality and growing closer to God.

I love to write, always have. This experience has introduced me to different people who are on the same journey as me, people I never would have met had I not started blogging. The things I have learned changed the way I look at God and prayer. I used to think that the only way to talk to God was by sitting still and reading prayers from a book that I didn’t even understand. I do want to say that sitting still and reading prayers are perfectly wonderful ways of praying, but this is not the only way of praying or being spiritual.

As I started writing, I realized that the act of writing itself was a good exercise to help me see and enjoy all the life around me. Unless I was willing to look around and pay attention to the sights and sounds, the ups and downs, the good and the bad, I would remain in my own bubble and never learn the beauty of each act of kindness, prayer, service and

compassion. On the other hand, I would never feel in my gut the loneliness in life, the sadness and perhaps the death of a friendship, or a deep down wrenching in my soul.

My experience of spirituality has been deepened by blogging because letting the words flow out on the screen keeps me thinking and wondering and praying. When other bloggers comment on something I have written I learn new insights from them, different ways of looking at things.

For example, my most recent post contained these words:

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest accomplishment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around ...”

I saw this somewhere, and for the life of me I just don’t remember where or who wrote it, but boy do I subscribe to what it says!

Think about it. What do humans crave? We crave food, water, shelter and human contact. These are the things we need to survive. We survive all the better when we have human contact — a look, a touch, a smile, an intimate friendship or marriage.

Today I want to celebrate the power of a touch — the power of love.

For me, spirituality is how I see God, how I approach God, how I love God and how God loves me. Jesus himself told us that we must love God with our whole heart, soul and mind. In my own way I am searching for a deeper relationship with God, and in the process I have met wonderful people who share their love of God and each other.

Ozanich is a St. Paul of the Cross Monastery Passionist associate.

Blogging and spirituality

Saint Joseph Spirituality Center 724-869-6585Web Site: www.stjoseph-baden.orgSponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph Staffed by Sister Marguerite Kropinak, CSJ/Sister Donna Marie Tahaney, CSJ

Kearns Spirituality Center 412-366-1124 • Web site: www.cdpsisters.org E-mail: [email protected] • Sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence

Martina Spiritual Renewal Center 412-931-9766Web site: www.sistersoftheholyspirit.com E-mail: [email protected] by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit

Mount Saint Macrina Retreat Center (See Mount Saint Macrina House of Prayer; page 4)

Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center 412-381-7676 • E-mail: [email protected]: Very Rev. Gerald Laba, CP

Providence Villa 724-444-8055 Web Site: www.divineprovidenceweb.org E-mail: [email protected] by the Sisters of Divine Providence

The Spiritan Center–Formation,Retreat, Renewal 412-835-3510 x112Web Site: www.spiritans.orgE-mail: [email protected] Staffed by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit

Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center 724-964-8886Web Site: www.villaprograms.orgStaffed by 5 Sisters of the Humility of Mary and 6 Lay Staff E-mail: [email protected]

Saint Vincent Archabbey 724-805-2139E-mail: [email protected] Staffed by the Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey

PRAYERContinued from Page 4


C E L E B R A T I O N

July 25 - 7:00 PMA Symphonic CelebrationLawrence Loh, conductorOlga Kern, piano Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh and the Pittsburgh Symphony throw a summer symphonic celebration featuring Dvorak’s Carnival Overture. Enjoy a breathtaking performance of Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 for Piano featuring Olga Kern and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3.

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FOR TICKETS, CALL 412.392.4900 OR VISIT PITTSBURGHSYMPHONY.ORG

August 2 - 7:30 PMChristian Capocaccia, conductor

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Join the Pittsburgh Symphony, conductor Christian Capocaccia and Xiayin Wang for a one-of-a-kind summer concert with light

classical favorites, virtuoso piano fireworks, and music from the silver screen. “Triple Play” offers something for everyone during a unique concert

experience featuring The Tales of Hoffmann, Concerto in G major for Piano and Orchestra and Suites from Pirates of the Caribbean,

Batman: The Dark Knight Rises and more!

Summer with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

XIAYIN WANG, PIANO

TRIPLE PLAYTRIPLE PLAY


By KAREN FERRICK-ROMAN

Dr. Aleem Gangjee has been fighting cancer for more than 35 years.

A prolific researcher at Duquesne University, Gangjee has attracted more than $18.2 million in grant funding. The noted Mylan School of Pharmacy Distinguished Professor has achieved the near-mythic status of holding five concurrent National Institutes of Health grants in a world where researchers compete intensely for one NIH grant award.

Recently, Gangjee’s portfolio of nearly 50 patents was licensed in the university’s largest-ever licensing agreement to alumnus Dr. Frank Sorgi, CEO of FLAG Therapeutics. Both men hope that Sorgi’s background in drug development will bring Gangjee’s compounds into clinical trials and, ultimately, commercialization. It could be an answer for families who face the heartbreaking task of watching their loved ones — 7.6 million people — fight a losing battle with cancer every year.

This dream of out-maneuvering the dreaded disease is hinged upon personal circumstances and professional dreams

for Gangjee. Growing up in India, Gangjee planned to become an industrial chemist. Then his dear grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, a disease she did not survive.

Her struggle shaped Gangjee’s professional life, moving him into medicinal chemistry and a career that would demand every ounce of his

creativity and scientific shrewdness.Arriving at Duquesne in 1979, Gangjee

started a lab with borrowed glassware and a $10,000 United Way grant. His dream, skills and determination have attracted millions in grant funding that has not only provided the means to buy glassware but to train the next generation of researchers, to subcontract with collaborators, and to design computer-

A personal and professional battle Duquesne professor wages

35-year-plus war against cancer

Dr. Gangjee enjoys the opportunity to support graduate assistants who participate in research efforts in the university’s wet lab.


generated molecules that physically and chemically thwart cancer cells.

Gangjee, who also holds the Van Kaam Chair on Scholarly Excellence, has created a think tank in his Mellon Hall office, with photos of his beloved grandchildren always watching. But the space is dominated by carefully choreographed stacks of student work, articles he is writing, articles he is reviewing, data from collaborators and discoveries in the field. One wall holds some patents and other awards, like the 2012 American Association of Pharmaceutical

Scientists Research Achievement Award in Drug Discovery and Development Interface.

This award recognizes Gangjee’s latest compounds, linchpins in the licensing deal: two families of water-soluble drugs (potentially allowing them to be administered orally) designed to target and destroy cancer cells in at least two different ways.

His is the first class of compounds ever to combine into one molecule antiangiogenic agents, which inhibit the growth of new blood vessels, and antitubulin compounds, which deter proteins that allow cancer to grow. The one-two punch delivered by the compounds takes advantage of the narrow

window of time when the extraordinary blood supply that supports aggressive tumor growth can be suppressed by pharmaceuticals. With the blood supply diminished by the antiangiogenics and the cancer cells already weakened, antitubulin compounds further inhibit cancer cell growth.

The second family of compounds uses both Gangjee’s skill in designing a molecule to physically fit into the space of receptor in cells, in a way he describes as parking a car in the right-sized garage, and in creating compounds that would chemically bind to these receptors — and only these receptors in cancer cells. These folate-targeted anti-cancer compounds interrupt cell multiplication, physically and chemically blocking tumor growth. By blocking tumor growth, these compounds kill tumor cells. Because they are so selective, they target only the tumor cells, leaving normal cells unharmed. This selectivity makes the therapy less likely to sicken cancer patients with side effects — a factor critically important to Gangjee and his work.

Both of these novel approaches trick cancer cells, acting like Trojan horses carrying the compounds inside the tumors to pack their deadly double punch. Preclinical studies suggest that the compounds could be used to treat multiple types of cancer, including some ovarian, breast, lung, brain and pancreatic cancers — and surpass conventional therapies in their safety and efficacy profiles.

The compounds show two other remarkable advantages: the agents are

not susceptible to drug resistance and are particularly promising in both late and early stages of the disease.

“Dr. Gangjee is a highly respected researcher and FLAG is honored to have the opportunity to advance his discoveries from the bench into the clinic — and ultimately to individuals in need of new therapeutic cancer treatment options,” said Sorgi, who graduated from Duquesne’s Mylan School of Pharmacy and the Donahue-Palumbo School of Business. “We already have identified lead clinical candidates, each supported with encouraging comparative in vivo data versus current therapies, and we look forward to advancing these compounds into clinical trials.”

For Gangjee — and others who have lost loved ones to cancer — harnessing the potential of these compounds could be a dream come true.

“We pursue the discovery of novel drugs because of the challenge to stop this dreaded disease in its tracks,” said Gangjee. “To be able to partner with a company that affords the promise that these discoveries will have — the opportunity to be used in patients who need them — is a lifelong dream.”

Ferrick-Roman is media relations manager atDuquesne University.

Growing up in India, he planned to be an industrial chemist until his grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her struggle shaped Gangjee’s professional life, moving him into medical chemistry.

Arriving at Duquesne in 1979, Gangjee

started a lab with borrowed glassware and a $10,000 United Way grant.

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By HAROLD HARTGER Wellness is a conscious and deliberate

process that involves being aware of and making choices for a healthier, more satisfying lifestyle.

Wellness is really the same basic notion as “health.” However, the term “health” has become so connected to the health care industry that people have sought out the idea of wellness to indicate the active, non-medical aspects of our personal journeys.

Wellness is …• Holistic. It involves all aspects of life —

body, mind, spirit, and community.• Positive. It is not the absence of disease,

but rather the presence of those things that add meaning, value and happiness to our lives.

• Active and self-directed. Wellness is an active and intentional process of working to make the quality of life better and more satisfying.

• For everyone. We are all engaged in some kind of wellness journey.

• Balance. In essence, wellness means finding the balance that is right for each person.

It is different for each person. There is no “one size fits all.”

To begin on a wellness journey, assess your strengths and needs in these eight areas or dimensions of wellness (some examples are included):

• Emotional (manage stress or have better emotional balance)

• Environmental (manage clutter at home)

• Financial (develop and stick to a budget)• Intellectual (enroll in an enrichment

course or go back to school)• Occupational (get or keep a full-time or

part-time job)• Physical (create a food plan for healthy

eating)• Social (improve relationships with family

or friends)• Spiritual (practice prayer, mindfulness

or meditation) An honest assessment should enable

you to consider and prioritize the areas in which you would like to make changes or improvements. With those strengths and needs in mind, the first step is to set a specific and measurable short-term goal, a small step that can be accomplished in a six to eight-week timeframe.

Next, create a plan to achieve the goal by setting weekly targets, identifying potential barriers, and listing supports as well as

necessary resources. In the physical dimension of wellness,

the individual may want to (examples in parentheses):

• Change a habit or routine (cut down on or cease smoking)

• Improve their sleep (get six hours of uninterrupted sleep)

• Improve their diet and nutrition (eat more fruits and vegetables)

• Start or expand an exercise routine (walk for 20 minutes per day)

• Improve stress management (set aside 10 minutes a day for relaxation)

• Deal more effectively with the management of chronic health conditions, medical screenings, and appointments (learn how to take one’s own blood pressure)

It is important to develop an accountability plan that may initially include a friend, a relative, or a wellness coach to help you move toward self-accountability for wellness goals. Take into account that life happens and be flexible by adjusting goals and plans as needed.

These small steps empower you by helping to build positive habits, routines and self-accountability that will support long-term change.

Hartger is director of mental health rehabilitation for the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System.

Take small steps to begin a wellness journey

Walking is a healthy way to improve your wellness. You can do it alone or walk together, like this team from Pittsburgh Mercy Health System had fun doing at the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community in May.


By CHRISTINA A. HANLINJust because we don’t act like we care,

doesn’t mean that we don’t. Just because the work assigned to us doesn’t seem difficult, doesn’t mean that it isn’t.

As a teenager, I can say that most all adolescents truly care about their grades. Even if we say that we don’t care — we do. It’s just the defense mechanism that teens resort to when we feel overly stressed.

That “I don’t care” attitude that your child is enforcing is the way they cope with the rising feeling of failure deep down. They feel no sense of pride from receiving grades that have hit rock bottom. However, what we fail to see is that rock bottom is a good and sturdy starting platform to build your way back up.

Right now, your child is worrying about what the other children at school think of them based on their looks and the act that they put up around people in which they feel miniscule. They are not stressing over the formula to find the area of a triangle or the molecular structure of radium. Their social lives are at full bloom and their focus is on the words of their peers, not the words of their teachers.

When my grades first began to fall, I felt a false security. I figured I’d get them back up. It was only the beginning of the year and I had plenty of time. Procrastination comes naturally to humans, as does the natural urge to do what will make us feel good in the moment but not in the long run.

After all of the work piled up, telling myself that I’d get to it later, a wall of realization hit me. It was over halfway through the year and I had below failing grades. I had suddenly realized that if I didn’t act quickly, I would fail the year and no teen wants to get held back. Not because it would look bad on college applications, but because it would be excruciatingly embarrassing.

My parents were very disappointed in me and every time I attempted to have a normal conversation with them they would bring up my grades and infuriate me. I was sick of hearing about my missing work from school every hour of every day.

At the time, I was seeing a therapist and it was brought to her attention by my parents the dangerous decline of my grades. She had diagnosed me with ADHD and referred me to a doctor to prescribe me medication that I was to take every day.

My parents and I also began talking. We talked about why I didn’t care and why I let

my grades drop to such levels. Instead of shrouding me with their disappointment and pestering me until I nearly exploded, they listened to me and they tried to understand. That small attempt to reach out to me made a world of difference. I realized that they didn’t hate me because I was doing poorly, they were worried. They still loved me, even though I was failing.

The next thing I knew, I managed to get a 19 percent up to an 82 percent in three weeks, and I received a letter from the school stating that I had made honor roll in about eight weeks. In the end, I thank the people who pushed me to work harder, not the ones who

badgered when I was experiencing problems. Communication is key when it comes to your child. If there is a mutual respect instead of a feeling of ownership, it could change everything. It could help not only your child’s grades but the relationship between you and your child. Your relationship with your child

cannot be single-sided. To build your way back up after you’ve hit rock bottom, you both have to work together.

Hanlin is a junior atShaler Area High School.

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By FRANK T. BALESTRIERI

Last May, I was able to retire from my job as a caseworker for the state Department of Public Welfare. What may sound strange to many is that for more than 25 years I loved my job.

When I started my career, I really had no idea what it involved. For the first year, my caseload would increase until I received a full load — about 135 cases.

As a caseworker I was responsible to review eligibility of my clients for the various programs — cash assistance, food stamps and selected medical programs were reviewed every six months. Most interviews were completed in the client’s homes. This one-on-one aspect of the job is what I enjoyed the most.

I tried to remember my previous interviews with the clients. They may have mentioned a child had been doing something at their school. When I talked to them at a later time, I might ask about the child. I wanted my clients to know I thought of them as individuals and not numbers in the system.

My clients knew my car. My field day in the Glen-Hazel projects area was always Wednesday. If my client wanted to see me, they would flag me down to ask me questions or give me some paperwork that I needed. I realized that you had more cooperation when you treat people with respect.

In those early years, we had no computers. All information needed was acquired by interviewing the client. We had to be able to relate to our clients. They depended on the

worker for most information about various programs. Although we were not social workers, we did provide some social work.

As the years went by, the department changed. Computers came into the workplace. In theory, it sounds good. However, in government, we received

items that were the lowest bid. As time went on much of the eligibility determination was done by the computer programs, but the problem was the programs were not always correct. Also, if the wrong code was entered, a wrong decision would result. As the department lost more seasoned workers, the new workers just relied on the computer. We began to become impersonal. With the economy going down, our work force was reduced. The sad reality was when more of the population was in need of us — there were less of us on staff. Caseloads were becoming 400-500 cases.

Harrisburg was concerned only with statistics. No one at the top really cares about the poor. The entire focus of the job was changing. We were to get our “stats” in order. Call centers were set up to handle some of what we usually completed. The one-on-one part of the job began changing.

Clients were not assigned to workers. The clients were being treated more like objects than people. Work was backing up. Applications were taking more than 30 days to be resolved. I hated treating people this way. I hated going to the office. I started being miserable to be around at work. I had trouble sleeping at night and would be sick many mornings. I was not able to adjust to

this new direction of the job. At the advice of one of my managers, Jill

Pajaek, I took a temporary assignment with the program LIHEAP. I was re-energized. We worked on the federal heating program. Our emphasis was helping the clients become eligible for the program. I worked as a customer representative for three years. I worked the program for about six to nine months per year. As Matthew Kelly states in his book “Rediscover Catholicism,” all honest work can be transferred into prayer and offered up to God. This is what I started to do.

When I would return to my district office, I was now a customer rep. Although some supervisors and managers would mention I spent too much time with the clients, I did not change. I explained I would not push the client away until they knew I did my best for them.

When I would hear a fellow worker show a lack of caring, I would tell them “God hears the cry of the poor.”

Often if I was having a bad day, I would close my eyes and use a prayer we used at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center — “Let Go and Let God.” This got me to my retirement date.

About a month before my retirement, I ran into a former client. I had been her caseworker at the start of my career. I remembered her name and asked about her mother and sister. She was surprised I remembered all this information. But she told me that I always treated them as people and seemed to care.

That is how I wanted to be remembered —someone who cared.

Balestrieri is a member of Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill Neighborhood.

Former caseworker

reminded co-workers

that God hears the cry

of the poor


By CAROL GLATZCatholic News Service

LOURDES, France — Military chaplains are used to hitting the road and heading where the hurt is as they tour bases, camps and veterans clinics.

But on a recent pilgrimage to Lourdes with wounded soldiers, a group of Catholic chaplains also found a sacred space for healing.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes “is a special place for Catholics and for anyone who has faith. It’s a place where you can feel and experience prayer,” said Msgr. Frank Pugliese, one of the chaplains on the pilgrimage.

“I think this is truly a field hospital” where people experience inner spiritual healing as they reconnect with God and other people of faith, said the monsignor, who is the former vicar general of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services and a retired military chaplain who served the naval forces for 21 years. He is currently helping two parishes in San Diego.

In Lourdes, “The healings that happen I think are amazing, not all of them physical,” he said.

“People have a sense of peace, of being loved, of being able to leave behind some of the baggage that they come with. And I think that’s sometimes a more powerful healing than if someone throws away crutches,” he said.

Msgr. Pugliese was one of more than a dozen Catholic chaplains who brought their unique pastoral expertise to a “Warriors to Lourdes” pilgrimage, where they accompanied about 60 retired

and active duty U.S. military facing disabilities, together with family

members, caregivers and support staff.The May 13-19 pilgrimage, organized by

the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services and the Knights of Columbus, offered an opportunity for prayer, healing and friendship in Lourdes — where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.

The monsignor said those who struggle with physical limitations are not marginalized at Lourdes.

“So many times in our society if you’re disabled, it’s like, ‘Get out of my way. I’m in a hurry.’ Here it’s a totally different experience,” he said. “They’re treated like they’re special” and receive privileged care and attention from residents, pilgrims and hospital staff.

Physical scars and disabilities aren’t the only dangers of combat. Many military men and women “are put in situations that are horrendous,” presenting chaplains with an entirely different set of pastoral challenges, he said.

“I see the church, and priests, as a place of coming back to a sense of purpose” where violence doesn’t define who these soldiers are. “Who they are is where they come to be at peace, like this” pilgrimage, he said.

The “Warriors to Lourdes” pilgrimage was

part of the larger annual International Military Pilgrimage that saw 12,000 soldiers from 36 nations come together for a weekend of prayer May 16-18.

Such a large gathering joining military forces and peaceful prayer isn’t odd or incongruous, he said.

“I don’t think anyone goes into military service in any country to kill people. They do it to be a defensive force to preserve peace in their own nation,” he said.

Seeing so many, sometimes once-warring, nations come together, is a sign of how many armed service members “are dedicated to preserving peace in their own countries by service.”

Father Dan Devore said he finds the unique opportunities to reach out to those who are distant from the church in his ministry as a hospital chaplain at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Attending to veterans, their families and staff “is the best ministry I’ve ever had in my life,” said the 71-year-old priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. “You can see how you help people on a day-to-day basis.”

Men and women who experience the tragic effects of war or personal catastrophe also sometimes end up questioning God’s existence, Father Devore said.

“They get mad at God for one reason or another,” but the priest said he tells them that “no matter what, God still loves them and he forgives them. They just have to forgive God and themselves.”

CNS photo Paul HaringAbout 60 wounded U.S. military personnel, together with family members and caregivers, were a part of the annual International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

In Lourdes, military chaplains find a sacred space for healing


By PAULA A. SMITHCorrespondent

According to the National Kidney Foundation statistics for May 2014, there are 122,737 people waiting for lifesaving organ transplants in the United States.

They hope and wait. Each day, 14 people die while waiting for up to 2.6 years for a kidney transplant. The waiting time amounted to 3,381 patients who died last year. The United States Renal Disease Statistics annual data report for 2013 shows the increase in the numbers of adult patients waiting for a kidney transplant escalated in 16 years from 24,000 in 1995 to

90,000 in 2011. Currently, there are 100,602 people waiting for kidney transplants.

“People assume the supply of deceased donors meets the need,” said Dr. Roger Evans, Ph.D., in a telephone interview with the Pittsburgh Catholic. He is a transplant professional who worked on passing the National Organ Transplantation Act of 1984 to address the disparity between placement of organs, supply and equitable organ donation so that everybody gets listed. He points to an interest in other alternatives because deceased donors are inadequate to meet this need with large numbers on the waiting list.

Living donors used to be very limited with

an age range between 45-50 years, Evans said. Although each potential kidney donor is individually evaluated, the ages are older now because there’s more recognition that there is not an adequate supply of donors. The NKF states that acceptable donors can range in age from newborn to 65 years or more.

“End-stage renal disease rates have gone up astronomically,” said Evans, who received the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the field of transplantation in 2010 at the annual business meeting of the American Society of Transplantation in San Diego.

“There are more people on dialysis.” When he started his research work in 1973 there were not as many patients on dialysis and he estimates today there are some 200,000-plus who would potentially benefit from a transplant.

Nicole Petrosky was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease last June. Following a family trip to Krakow, Poland, in December 2012, she felt different. When her kidneys began to fail, she needed blood transfusions. A former resident of Greensburg, the 35-year-old began dialysis treatment recently and estimates she will be on the waiting list maintained by the United Network for Organ Sharing for a kidney transplant for three to five years.

She is a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., where she resides with her husband, DeMargo Hopson.

Her parents, Lori and Frank Petrosky, are members of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg. They attend Mass, recite the rosary daily and pray faithfully to St. Pio of

Organ donation: A noble expression of generous solidarity

CNS photo/Gregg McIntoshAdalberto “Beto” Espinoza, left, who received a kidney from fellow seminarian Timothy Renz, is pictured with Renz at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., in 2007. Both were expected to lead normal lives after their recovery.

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Pietrelcina to intercede for a living donor for their only child. Family and friends are not a healthy match for Nicole. Lori has previously undergone two liver transplants.

Calling organ donation the greatest gift you can give, her father created the concept “Circle of Life” to propose an arrangement for kidney donations. “If someone wants to donate a kidney and they’re not a match, if they are willing, they will donate it to someone else, and if the other person was a match then they would donate to that person,” he explained.

Evans would definitely support the decision of someone who wants to become a living kidney donor provided they know the risks.

“Donors need to be well informed of the circumstances,” he said. “It’s not risk-free.” He pointed out that first, any surgical procedure with general anesthesia is a risk, but it is a relatively small one. And second, a donor may need a kidney themselves after donating one. The informed consent procedure is in place and the person makes the decision if they want to go forward with it. Donors and recipients are tracked.

For the recipient, Evans says what you look at is the quality of life and benefits for the patient who is on dialysis compared to transplantation.

“Living donors are altruistic people who value the other person’s life and want to make that commitment,” he said. “Living donors are special people — there’s no question about it.”

Maureen Vekasy, a registered nurse in transplant for 10 years and a living donor coordinator for three years at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at UPMC in Pittsburgh, says the living donor program is good because it decreases a recipient’s time on the transplant waiting list.

“A donor is ready to go to surgery in three to four weeks.” A match is made with the living donor for blood type and a cross-match to check antibodies in the blood. “They receive a very thorough work-up,” she said. “Donors have to be healthy, with no diabetes or high blood pressure.” Surgery is usually performed in the morning and by the next afternoon they are going home. With a relatively quick recovery, most donors can return to work within six weeks.

Vekasy sees living kidney donation as a way to help someone to be a better mother, father, daughter, son, sister or brother, because they have a better quality of life. And having one kidney has no effect on a living donor’s longevity.

“Their life expectancy is not shortened,” she said. “Just like any of us, they should live a healthy lifestyle.”

“I knew I could donate one kidney and

Cassie Stanley of Elburn, Ill., and Ben Mazzoni, a lung transplant patient and member of St. Benedict Parish in Chicago, join other patients and their families as they honor organ donors during a ceremony at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. The service was held during National Donate Life Month, which raises awareness of organ and tissue donation.CNS photo/Karen Callaway

See Organ, Page 16

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keep on living,” said Father Alfred Cioffi, a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Miami in a telephone interview with the Pittsburgh Catholic. He holds a doctorate in moral theology from Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and a doctorate in genetics from Purdue University in Indiana.

Father Cioffi is a senior fellow and ethicist with the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia and serves as an advisor to the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

He said the Catholic Church actually encourages people to become donors and approves it as long as certain processes are in place. They are: first, an informed consent; and second, a cadaveric person is declared clinically dead within the brain dead definition.

In 2007, he donated one of his kidneys to a parishioner in dire need who underwent two previous cadaveric kidney transplants and would have died within months on dialysis.

“It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve done in my life,” Father Cioffi said. “I felt very honored to do it. It was a very happy thing.”

Calling the experience of organ donation incredible, he feels perfectly fine and healthy and forgets he’s only going on one kidney.

“I’m doing the same lifestyle, I exercise a lot, live a healthy life and teach fulltime.”

He related that his remaining kidney actually grew a little to compensate.

The parishioner he donated to is surviving and has the best health she’s had in years. She is able to care for her elderly mother instead of placing her in a nursing home. He noted that the average life span of a cadaveric kidney is seven years compared to a living kidney that is 14 years.

He further calculated, “With an adult

population of 180 million people, if .1 percent of American adults in the United States were to donate a kidney, we would wipe out that 100,000 people that are dying.” He figured the rate was comparable to one cent out of every $10.

“I encourage priests and nuns, in particular, to consider donating a kidney,” said Father Cioffi.

“First, we don’t have any immediate family to support that depends on us. And second, we have a better chance of getting a kidney. If one kidney were to fail, it would be easier for us to find a donor.”

He asks all who have lived a full life, “What’s wrong with donating a kidney?”

For more information on kidney donation visit: www.CORE.org and www.UPMC.com/services/transplants. Maureen Vekasy may be reached at 412-647-5512 or e-mail: [email protected]; and Father Alfred Cioffi at: 786-489-9369.

Smith is a freelance writer for the Pittsburgh Catholic and parishioner of North American Martyrs Parish in Monroeville.

Dr. Joseph Murray, the Catholic surgeon who conducted the world’s first organ transplant in 1954 is shown in a file photo. Murray won a Nobel Prize and a Laetare Medal among his many honors. He died in 2012 at the age of 93.CNS photo

ORGANContinued from Page 15

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By MARK PATTISONCatholic News Service

WASHINGTON — The efforts by retired major-league pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen, to help children get through their grief after having lost a loved one received star treatment in April on the HBO pay-cable channel.

A short documentary profiling the Moyer Foundation’s work in this regard, called Camp Erin, with more than 40 locations across the United States, debuted in April. Called “One Last Hug: Three Days at Grief Camp,” the program looked at just a handful of the dozens of children who go to the weekend camp to better understand their feelings of loss, anger and sadness after a parent, sibling or other loved one has died.

On the mound, Moyer, a Catholic, may be known for a lot of things, like toiling for 25 years in the majors, being the oldest starter (at age 49) to win a game, winning 269 games in his career and also giving up more home runs (522) than any other big-league pitcher.

But being known for Camp Erin will suit him just fine, thank you.

“We started our foundation, we really didn’t have a direction,” Moyer told Catholic News Service in a telephone interview from Philadelphia, where he is part of the Philadelphia Phillies’ broadcast team.

“I had been involved with a grief camp in South Bend, Ind., when we lived there, he

said. Karen Moyer went to the University of Notre Dame and met Jamie when he was a Chicago Cubs rookie and she was assisting on TV broadcasts. “I saw how it helped children coping with a loss,” he continued. “We wanted to try to find an organization like that. We couldn’t, so we started one.”

They named it Camp Erin after Erin Metcalf, a cancer-stricken Seattle-area teen whose wish was to meet Moyer.

“Her family, with their good graces, allowed us to use her name in the camp,” Jamie Moyer said.

For Karen Moyer, “this is what I do. This is my life. I will do this until I die,” she told CNS in a separate telephone interview. This is in addition to going to daily Mass and raising the couple’s eight children — including two adoptees — ranging in age from 7 to 22.

“When you can take it to a platform of a documentary that is somebody else’s idea and HBO buys into it, a national audience takes away a lot of things from this documentary. I find there are many adults who when they see it, wish they had it. They want to get involved, they want to volunteer. They know kids who need the camp, they know where to find funding to sustain the camps and establish the camps,” Karen Moyer said, adding, “Our partnership and relationship with New York Life (Insurance Co.) and HBO has been nothing but a blessing to the mission.”

Thanks in part to a $1 million donation by

the Moyers in 2007, Camp Erin was able to expand to each city where there is a major-league team. Now there are 45 U.S. cities where there is at least one Camp Erin retreat each year.

“It grows every year. And that’s what’s so important about what we do. It continues to grow. We have to be able to continue to reach out,” Karen said. Jamie offered one reminder: Even if 3,000 children and teens get helped each year by Camp Erin, “there’s a million and half kids up to age 17 in this country dealing with a loss. So there’s a need.”

Karen Moyer said the foundation has a five-year plan in which it hopes to expand the number of cities hosting a Camp Erin by three to five each year, and solidifying partnerships with such youth-serving organizations as the YMCA, YWCA and the Boys and Girls Club.

“I like to think about what else I can do for the child. They’re in all kinds of distress,” she added.

“We have a national resource list for those who are grieving a loss. Children reach out to us, so we reach out to get them into camp as soon as possible,” she said. As a result of the documentary being shown, she added, “I hope millions of dollars fall from the sky.”

The foundation also runs another kind of camp, called Camp Mariposa, to help children deal with a household situation in which someone else in the house is living with addiction.

Foundation of retired pitcher, wife, helps kids deal with grief, loss

Retired major-league pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen, established camps to help children get through their grief after having lost a loved one.CNS photo/courtesy HBO


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201420142014 Summer Fun &Recreation GuideSummer Fun &Recreation Guide

Below is a listing of parish festivals occurring throughout the diocese from July through October. The listing is posted at www.pitts-burghcatholic.org.

JulY7-12 | St. Sebastian, Ross TownshipMonday-Saturday, July 7-12, upper playground

and school grounds, 311 Siebert Road. For more details, call 412-364-8999.

9-12 | St. John the Baptist, UnityWednesday-Saturday, July 9-12, starting at 7

p.m. (food service starts at 6:30 p.m. on Wednes-day and Thursday, 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, festival starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday), parish grounds, 444 St. John St. (off Unity Center Road).

9-12 | North American Martyrs, Monroeville

Wednesday-Saturday, July 9-12, 6-11 p.m., parish grounds, 2526 Haymaker Road (near Forbes Regional Hospital). For more information, visit www.namfestival.com.

9-12 | Our Lady of Most BlessedSacrament, Natrona Heights.

Wednesday-Saturday, July 9-12, 6-10:30 p.m. (5-10:30 p.m. on Saturday), school grounds, 800 Montana Ave.

9-12 | Resurrection, BrooklineWednesday-Saturday, July 9-12, parish

campus, 1100 Creedmoor Ave.

10-12 | St. Angela Merici, White OakThursday-Saturday, July 10-12, 7-11 p.m.

(6-11 p.m. on Saturday, with food booths and flea market opening ½ hour early each night), church grounds, 1640 Fawcett Ave.

10-12 | St. Joseph, CoraopolisThursday-Saturday, July 10-12, 5-10 p.m.,

church parking lot, 1304 Fourth Ave.

10-12 | St. Jude, WilmerdingThursday-Saturday, July 10-12, 6-11 p.m.,

parish grounds, 405 Westinghouse Ave.

16-19 | All Saints, EtnaWednesday-Saturday, July 16-19, dinners

start at 5 p.m., stands open at 6:30 p.m., church grounds on Dewey Street. For information and directions, call 412-781-0530.

17-19 | St. Robert Bellarmine,East McKeesport

Thursday-Saturday, July 17-19, upper parking lot behind parish center, 1313 Fifth Ave.

17-19 | SS. Simon & Jude, Scott Township

Thursday-Saturday, July 17-19, starting at 6 p.m., school grounds, 1607 Greentree Road.

18-19 | St. Christopher, ProspectFriday-Saturday, July 18-19, 4-10 p.m., festival

grounds, 229 N. Franklin St.

19 | Immaculate Heart of Mary, Polish HillSaturday, July 19, noon-10 p.m., front of

church (on street), 3058 Brereton St.

21-26 | St. Basil, CarrickMonday-Saturday, July 21-26, 7-10 p.m.

(flea market open at 6 p.m.), church hall, 1735 Brownsville Road (flea market in church hall).

24-26 | St. Athanasius, West ViewThursday-Saturday, July 24-26, starting at

6 p.m., with dinners at 5 p.m., parish community center and grounds, 7 Chalfonte Ave.

24-26 | St. Gregory, ZelienopleThursday-Saturday, July 24-26, starting at

7 p.m. (6 p.m. on Saturday), church grounds, 2 W. Beaver St.

24-27 | Madonna del Castello, SwissvaleThursday-Saturday, July 24-27, 7 p.m., parking

lot, 2021 S. Braddock Ave. Parking is available at Noble Street lot.

25-26 | St. Agnes School, West MifflinFriday, July 25, 6-11 p.m. (fish sandwiches

available at 3 p.m.), Saturday, July 26, 5-11 p.m., school grounds, 653 St. Agnes Lane.

30-Aug. 2 | St. Alexis, WexfordWednesday-Saturday, July 30-Aug. 2,

6-11 p.m., parish and school campus, 10090 Old Perry Highway. For more information, call 724-935-4343 or visit www.stalexis.org.

30-Aug. 2 | Holy Redeemer, Ellwood CityWednesday-Saturday, July 30-Aug. 2,

6-10 p.m., school grounds, 300 Crescent Ave.

30-Aug. 2 | Holy Trinity,Robinson Township

Wednesday-Saturday, July 30-Aug. 2, parish and school grounds, 5720 Steubenville Pike.

31-Aug. 2 | St. Bernadette, MonroevilleThursday-Saturday, July 31-Aug. 2, starting

at 6 p.m., parish grounds, 245 Azalea Drive. For more information, visit www.stbfestival.com.

31-Aug. 2 | St. Irenaeus, OakmontThursday-Saturday, July 31-Aug. 2, 6-10 p.m.

(dinners from 4-7 p.m.), church campus, 387 Maryland Ave.

31-Aug. 2 | St. Mark, Liberty BoroughThursday-Saturday, July 31-Aug. 2, 6-11 p.m.,

Liberty Borough site, 3210 Liberty Way.

AuGusT3 | St. Mary of the Assumption, HermanSunday, Aug. 3, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., school grounds,

821 Herman Road.

FestivalsFestivals


6-9 | St. Valentine, Bethel ParkWednesday-Saturday, Aug. 6-9, 6-10 p.m. (din-

ners start at 4 p.m.), lower level church parking lot, 2710 Ohio St.

6-9 |St. Vitus, New CastleWednesday-Saturday, Aug. 6-9, beginning at 6

p.m., church grounds, 910 S. Mercer St.

7-9 | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, CarnegieThursday-Saturday, Aug. 7-9, 5-11 p.m. (6-10

p.m. on Thursday), parish campus, 330 3rd Ave.

7-10 | St. Raphael, MorningsideThursday-Sunday, Aug. 7-10, stating at 7 p.m.,

school grounds, 1118 Chislett St. For more information, call 412-661-3100.

9 | Mary, Mother of the Church, Charleroi“Festival of Nations,” Saturday, Aug. 9, 11 a.m.-

8 p.m., alley behind church, 624 Washington Ave.

10 | Holy Family, CreightonSunday, Aug. 10, noon-8 p.m., Syria Mosque

Pavilion, 1877 Shriners Way, Cheswick.

10 | Holy Sepulcher, Glade MillsSunday, Aug. 10, flea market opens at 8 a.m.,

dinners served from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., activities from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., school and grounds, 1304 E. Cruikshank Road.

11-16 | Our Lady of Grace, Scott TownshipMonday-Saturday, Aug. 11-16, 7-10:30 p.m.

(dinners begin at 4 p.m.), parking lot between school and church, 310 Kane Blvd.

13-16 | Holy Wisdom, North Side“Northside Summer Celebration,” St. Boniface

Church campus, 2208 East St. For information, visit www.holywisdomparish.org.

17 | St. Francis of Assisi, FinleyvilleParish picnic, Sunday, Aug. 17, 1 p.m. until

dark, parish grounds, 3609 Washington Ave.

17 | St. Wendelin, Center Township.Sunday, Aug. 17, church hall and parking lot,

210 St. Wendelin Road.

18-23 | St. Sylvester, BrentwoodFestival is Monday-Saturday, Aug. 18-23,

7-10 p.m., parking lot, 3754 Brownsville Road,

18-23 | St. Teresa of Avila, PerrysvilleMonday-Saturday, Aug. 18-23, starting with

dinners at 4:30 p.m., parish grounds, 1100 Avila Ct.

28-31 | Good Samaritan, AmbridgeThursday, Aug. 28, 6-10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 29,

6-11 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 30, noon-11 p.m. (booths open at 2 p.m.), Sunday, Aug. 31, 1-10 p.m., church grounds, Eighth and Melrose avenues. For more information, visit www.goodsam1.org, or call 724-266-6565, ext. 22

sEPTEMBER5-6 | St. Blaise, MidlandFriday-Saturday, Sept. 5-6, 4-10 p.m., church

grounds, 772 Ohio Ave.

7 | St. Alphonsus, Wexford

“Harvest Home Dinner & Festival,” Sunday, Sept. 7, 1-6:30 p.m., parish grounds, 201 Church Road.

11-13 | St. Bartholomew, Penn Hills Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 11-13, 5-11 p.m. (5-10 p.m. on Thursday), parish campus, 111 Erhardt Drive.

7 | St. Joseph, CabotSunday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., church campus,

315 Stoney Hollow Road.

19-20 | St. Peter, Slippery Rock“Oktoberfest,” Friday, Sept. 19, 4-10 p.m.

and Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Rock Catholic Center, 342 Normal Ave.

27-28 | St. Michael, Butler,Italian Fest, Saturday, Sept. 27 noon-9 p.m.

and Sunday, Sept. 28, noon-7 p.m., social hall, 432 Center Ave.

OCTOBER2-4 | St. Malachy, Kennedy Twp.Nationality Food Fair, Thursday, Oct. 2, 4-10

p.m., Friday, Oct. 3, 4-11 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, 2-10 p.m., Weirauch Hall and church grounds, 343 Forest Grove Road.

Below is a listing of parish Golf Outings occurring throughout the diocese from July through October. The listing is posted at www.pittsburghcatholic.org.

AuGusT1 | Annual Capuchin Classic Golf OutingFriday, Aug. 1, River Forest Country Club, 130

Club House Drive in Freeport. Registration is at 8 a.m. Cost is $125 per golfer, $475 for four-some. Proceeds benefit The Capuchin Franciscan Friars – The Province of St. Augustine. For information, and to register, call 412-682-1300 or visit www.capuchin.com.

4 | 10th Annual Sisters of St. Francis ofthe Neumann Communities (Millvale) Golf Tournament,

Monday, Aug. 4, Sewickley Heights Golf Club, 126 Backbone Road in Sewickley. Tournament is 18-hole scramble format, with noon shotgun start. Variety of unique skill and hole-in-one prizes awarded. Tournament includes lunch,

dinner, and live auction. Proceeds benefit the mission and ministries of the sisters. For more information, and to register, call 412-821-2200, ext. 217 or visit www.sosf.org.

sEPTEMBER5 | 14th Annual St. Athanasius

Golf OutingFriday, Sept. 5, Pittsburgh North Golf

Club, 3800 Bakerstown Road in Bakerstown. Registration is at 8 a.m., shotgun start at 9 a.m. Cost is $65 for early birds (paid by Aug. 18), $70 for regular (paid after Aug. 18 and before Sept. 5) and $75 for late registrants (paid on day of event). Costs include continental breakfast, souvenir t-shirt, cart, dinner, on-court bever-ages, and chances to win raffle and skill prizes. Proceeds benefit faith formation, education, and community programs of St. Athanasius Parish in West View. For information, and to register, call Patrice Mikec at 412-931-6633.

8 | Catholic Charities 6th Annual Golf Classic

Monday, Sept. 8, Longue Vue Golf Club, 400 Longue Vue Drive in Penn Hills, Registration is at 10 a.m. Cost is $400 for single golfer, $1,600 for foursome and $125 for cocktail reception and dinner only. Proceeds benefit Catholic Chari-ties’s Free Health Care Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. For information, and to register, call 412-456-6695 or e-mail [email protected].

19 | Assumption’s 5th Annual Golf Outingand Dinner

Friday, Sept. 19, Shannopin Country Club, 1 Windmere Road in Ben Avon Heights. Proceeds benefit Assumption Parish in Bellevue. For more information, call 412-965-5739 or visit www.assumptionchurch.org.

21 | 19th Annual St. WendelinGolf Tournament

Sunday, Sept. 21, Hiland Golf Course, 106 St. Wendelin Road in Summit. Cost is $75 per person. Proceeds benefit St. Wendlin School in Carbon Center. For information and to register, call the parish at 724-287-0820. Registration deadline is Sept. 14.

OCTOBER13 | 8th Annual St. Thomas A’ Becket

Golf Outing,Monday, Oct. 13, South Hills Country Club,

4305 Brownsville Road, Whitehall. Registration is at 10 a.m. Cost is $190 per golfer, $760 for foursome and $50 for dinner only. Proceeds benefit the building fund of St. Thomas A’ Becket Parish in Jefferson Hills. For information, and to register, call 412-650-1505 or visit www.saintthomasabecket.com.

GolfOutings

Golf Outings


Every year, St. James Parish, 200 Walnut St. in Sewickley, hosts a Farmers’ Market as an outreach to support local farmers and merchants. Now in its seventh year, the St. James Parish Farmers’ Market is held on Saturdays in April through November, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The market hosts merchants selling meat, such as beef and pork, locally

grown fresh vegetables, honey from a local apiarist, freshly made pierogies, salmon (freshly caught in Alaska and flown in), organic farm products and much more. More than 30 local farmers and merchants are represented. The Farmers’ Market is certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with additional certification for the Department of Health of Allegheny County. For more information, call 412-741-6650 or visit www.saintjames-church.com.

St. James Farmers’ Market

“Bringing you the freshest produce - and a lot more!”

The Sisters of the Humility of Mary operate a viable productive farm on 726 acres in Villa Maria. It is located one mile south of U.S. Route 422 on Evergreen Road (10 miles east of Youngstown and 11 miles west of New Castle). Land management at the farm is based on spirituality, sustainability, simplicity and the preservation of all local life systems.

The public can sample what the farm has to offer by visiting the market barn. Open late June through early November, the market offers a wide variety of seasonal produce, including lettuce, onion, zucchini, fresh cut herbs, escarole, garlic, cucumbers, blueberries, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, broccoli and more. All produce is naturally grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Cash and checks accepted. Fore more information, call 724-964-8861, ext. 3385, or e-mail [email protected].

In keeping with the mission of the sisters, a large portion of the produce farm is donated to locale food banks, shelters and parishes.

“Villa Land Retreat _ Continuity Between Soil and Life”The Community Center at Villa Maria offers a variety of programs and retreats. One upcoming

retreat for the summer is about how integration of spirituality and sustainability can be expressed through the continuity between soil and life. After daily input on a specific ecological theme, a portion of the Villa land will be explored. Presented by Humility of Mary Sister Barbara O’Donnell and Frank Romeo, the retreat is from 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 12, through 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. Cost is $285, and includes food and lodging. To register, call 724-964-8886 or visit www.vmesc.org.

Villa Maria FarmSUMMER RECIPES

By PEGGY ZEZZAHere are some favorite summer recipes

from my family’s recipe book:Liz’s Signature Asian SaladIngredients:I package of spinach, torn8 tbsp. sliced almonds8 green onions chopped2 tbsp. sesame seeds1 package slaw2 packages Ramen Noodles brokenBrown almonds, when almost brown add

sesame seeds and brown.In a large bowl, mix spinach, cole slaw,

green onions, cooled almonds, & sesame seeds. Refrigerate.

Mix all ingredients for dressing.3/4-cup salad oil1 tsp. pepper6-tablespoon rice vinegar2 tsp. sea salt4 tbsp. sugarWhen ready to serve add broken noodles,

dressings and greens.

Aunt Ann’s Ice Cream Dessert Crust:60 crushed Ritz crackers (2 sleeves)1/4 stick butter, meltedCrush Ritz crackers with blender or rolling

pin. Mix with belted butter and form in the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.

Fillings2 small boxes of instant coconut cream pudding1 1/2 cup milk1-quart butter pecan ice cream, softened.Beat ice cream with mixer. Add milk a little

at a time. Then add pudding a little at a time and continue beating. After mixed well, pour over crust and refrigerate overnight.

Before serving, spread 8-ounce tub of Cool Whip over top.


• It’s a month of meals for your unemployed neighbor and his family.

• It’s new beds & furniture for a family of six who just lost their house in a fire.

• It’s clothing for 10 children living in poverty.

• It’s a dignified burial for an elderly woman who died alone in a nursing home.

• It’s a month’s worth of gas & electricity payments for a family trying to make ends meet.

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul provides assistance to over 100,000 local people annually throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Your tax deductible car donation enables us to serve our brothers and sisters in need.

It’s more than a piece of junk . . .

It’s easy! Just call 800.322.8284 or visit www.svdpusacars.org and we’ll take care of all the details.

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Summer is the time for yourNationality Picnic at Kennywood. Visit www.kennywood.com/plan-a-visit/nationality-community-events

for dates and discount ticket information. Save big with tickets to your Nationality Picnic at Kennywood.

DON’T MISS ALL THE FUN!!

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Healthy Spirit, Mind & Body Magazine