Seven-Church Pilgrimage: Holy Doors (Week 2)

Our second stop on the pilgrimage

The holy doors pictured here adorn the side entrance to this church building belonging to a parish established in 1839. The church is the second destination on our Seven-Church Pilgrimage on Holy Thursday.

This gothic structure is built of stone in cruciform design and seats 800 people. The parish cemetery is reported to have five Civil War Veterans resting there. When this parish was first established, worshippers attended Mass in an old wooden church located on local farm land. As the area’s Catholic population increased, the need for a bigger church arose and the current structure was erected in 1906 and dedicated by Bishop Regis Canevin.

Can you guess the church? Call in or e-mail your answers to Ginny at 412-264-6162, Ext. 24 or vambrose@verizon.net.

The church pictured in last week’s article was Saint Martin Church (Guardian Angels Parish) in the West End. The first person to guess the identity of the church was our parishioner, Donna Marano-Ricci.

Seven-Church Pilgrimage: Holy Doors (Week 1)

On Holy Thursday, April 5, we will trace the footsteps of Jesus as we embark on the Seven Church Pilgrimage. Join us for a prayer-filled evening as we visit 7 churches in our area. Two Stations of the Cross will be prayed in each church along with scripture and song. A booklet will be given to each participant with information about the churches we’ll be visiting. The Seven Church Pilgrimage is a prayerful and spiritual way to begin the Easter Triduum. The “Holy Doors” pictured here adorn the front of the first church on the Pilgrimage. This parish was founded in 1869 by German immigrants who had settled in the area. On August 15, 1869 the cornerstone was laid, and on May 1, 1870 the new church was dedicated. Nearly 100 years later, in 1960, the building caught fire and was eventually torn down. Plans for a new church began, and in 1971 ground was broken to build a new structure. Now, 41 years later, the church exists as part of a merged group of 3 churches to form a parish that serves a large area west of the city. Because of it’s “high” location, its bells can be heard for miles on Sunday mornings as it stands as a witness to the faith. Can you guess the name of the church? E-mail your answers to vambrose@verizon.net.

Jesus Heals Our Sin-Sick Soul

The Gospels from Mark have been speaking to us about Jesus’ healing of mind, body, and spirit for the last two weeks. In this week’s Gospel (Mark 1: 40-45), we hear of the story of the leper, whom Jesus “cleanses,” releasing him from his malady. Next weekend, we will hear of the story of the paralytic, who picks up his mat and walks away, healed and made whole.

These readings are preparing us for the upcoming season of Lent which is just two weeks away. The accounts are made known to us so that we may understand the healing powers of Jesus as we pray for our own needs. In the song, “There is a Balm in Gilead,” the lyrics cry out for cleansing and healing for a sin-sick soul. The lament has a simple message of encouragement for those wounded by sin and sadness. And who among us doesn’t need encouragement?

Have you ever taken a look through the pages of the “Book of Prayer Intentions” in the vestibule of our church? We write down our needs, our prayers, and our own laments in the book, trusting them to God’s mercy and will. When the book is full, the pages are brought to prayer groups and prayed over. Once a month we offer those intentions up to God’s will in our General Intercessions at Mass. They are never forgotten or disregarded. Some are distributed to those making pilgrimages to shrines.

Please continue to pray for the intentions listed there.

As the song says, “You can tell the love of Jesus, and say he died for all!” As we get closer to the season of Lent, let us unite our own suffering with that of Jesus, and pray for healing from our own wounds of sin which prevent us from experiencing true spiritual freedom.

Do Not Be Afraid, I Am With You!

In our Gospel reading today, Jesus demonstrates his unique power over sin and death in his healing of Simon’s mother-in-law. He then goes on to preach, heal and drive out demons, challenging all who listen, to prepare themselves for the coming reign of God. Many see His good works and in turn, go out, ministering to others in Jesus’ name.

We, too, can use this message that Jesus conveys — heal the sick, drive out demons — bring glad tidings to the poor. In our Offertory Hymn this week, “You Are Mine” by David Haas, we sing the comforting words, “Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me, I will bring you home; I love you and you are mine.”

Many choose this hymn to be played at funerals. The words of the refrain wrap us in the comfort of God’s divine love for us, and His Son, the Christ. Consider those words when you think of the Father in heaven comforting his Son as he hung on the cross at Calvary!

In allowing ourselves to be healed and made free of sin, we gain strength to go out and heal others in his name; maybe not in the literal sense, but as compassionate comforters — to speak kind words of faith, to lend a smile to lift someone’s spirit, to love the unloved. May we all work to bring healing to others and to all the world!