Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we continue to adapt to and evaluate new ways of doing almost everything, I ask God to keep your hope strong so that we can be open to new opportunities and possibilities for the future. Please take a moment to consider the following information as we move closer to our July 2021 merger:
Vision for the New Parish
As I mentioned during the Virtual Parish Assembly presentation, all that we do and all that we are really boils down to what Jesus offered when he was asked which commandment was the greatest.
"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.
“The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
“The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Gospel of Matthew)
Focusing on these commandments that are rooted in love, we are a Catholic family united by Jesus in the Eucharist. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we love and serve God in how we live and in who we are as sisters and brothers in Christ.
Virtual Parish Assembly Viewing
Our Virtual Parish Assembly presentation held on February 10 includes up-to-date information regarding the merger process. You can view it by clicking here. If you have questions about it, please contact Cindy Cusic Micco, Director of Communications, at 724-482-2690 x 225.
Feedback Regarding the New Parish Name
We are moving into the final phase of selecting a name for the new parish and we need your feedback! As revealed during the Virtual Parish Assembly and in subsequent bulletins, Bishop Zubik discerned the 20 names that we originally submitted to him as possibilities, and replied to us with a list of eight names that we now need to pare down to the Final Five.
Please prayerfully consider which THREE of the following names would be your top choices for the name of our newly merged parish:
All Saints
Blessed Sacrament
Christ the King
Good Shepherd
Mary, Queen of All Nations
St. Francis Xavier
St. Thomas Aquinas
Transfiguration
It is extremely important to list your reason(s) for your choices. Please consider the broader context of the name, and how it will be a strong, vibrant indicator of what the parish is now and what this faith community desires to become in the future.
The deadline to submit feedback is March 15. You can provide feedback in the following ways:
1. Fill out the form (click here for form) and mail it to Ms. Cindy Micco, 125 Buttercup Road, Butler, PA 16001. If you don’t have enough room on the form, feel free to attach additional paper(s).
2.Submit your feedback electronically at ButlerAreaCatholicParishes.org/Merger.
3.Email your top three choices and reasons to ButlerAreaCatholicParishes@gmail.com.
Once this information is gathered, the Pastoral and Finance Councils and clergy team will study the feedback to discern the Final Five names to submit to Bishop Zubik.
The bishop will make the final decision about the new parish name as he weighs the submissions from all of the parish groupings scheduled to merge in July, and also takes into consideration the names of the groupings that have already merged.
Contact Information Updates
Please help us to stay in touch with you throughout the remainder of the merger process. If you have not yet provided us with your email address, please send it to ButlerAreaCatholicParishes@gmail.com
If you do not have internet access and would like to be kept informed of the merger process, please do so via our bulletin.
We have so many opportunities in our lives to participate in the life of the Trinity. Now we have the opportunity to reinvigorate and excitedly spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Butler area faithful in ways that will be new and improved, and effective like never before, pulling together and pooling our gifts and talents for the Greater Glory of God!
Thank you for your participation. Stay safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Rev. Kevin C. Fazio
The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference today responded to questions that many people have asked about whether it is permissible to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
When people have no choice about which COVID vaccine to receive, it is morally acceptable to receive any vaccine they are offered. This is based on the December 2020 guidance from the Vatican, stating that “when ethically irreproachable Covid-19 vaccines are not available … it is morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process.”
The position of some bishops in Pennsylvania has been inaccurately reported in some news media, resulting in confusion among Catholics and the public.
Our position has never changed, nor has that of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which said, “While we should continue to insist that pharmaceutical companies stop using abortion-derived cell lines, given the world-wide suffering that this pandemic is causing, we affirm again that being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good.”
In essence, we recognize that at this time individuals are not given a choice of which vaccine to receive and that this should not prevent Catholics from getting vaccinated as soon as possible. Catholics may in good conscience, receive any vaccine, in order to protect themselves. Once again, being vaccinated safely against COVID-19 should be considered an act of love of our neighbor and part of our moral responsibility for the common good.
The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is based in Harrisburg and is the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops.
We are continuing our tradition of serving delicious Fish Fry dinners as we have for the past 20+ years. This year is different in that all meals will be for takeout only; we are not offering a dine-in option. We need of lots of volunteers to make this happen. Please consider volunteering by clicking on the button below to see what slots are available and then sign up. We thank all who have supported our Fish Fry over the years, especially this year's sponsors. Please frequent and support our local businesses.
Father Dan Waruszewki invites our youth and young adults to meet virtually each week to explore different themes. Click the buttons below to connect to the Zoom gatherings. Starting Feb. 1, the groups have the option of meeting in person in the double classroom or youth room at St. Fidelis' Faith Formation Building. For more information, contact Father Dan, our director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries, at waruszewskid@gmail.com