Happy Father’s Day

  Happy Father’s Day to all of our dads! For those who still have our dads with us, I pray that we are able to spend time with them today. For those whose dads have passed on to eternal life in heaven, I encourage you to spend a few moments in prayer and reflection to thank God for their lives.

Deacon David Schmidt to be Ordained a Priest

  As we approach the tail end of June, we celebrate and congratulate Butler’s own Deacon David Schmidt on his priesthood ordination and first Mass at St. Conrad the weekend of June 25-26. We wish him the very best as he begins this new chapter in his life of service to the people of God. (Click here to RSVP for his reception on Sunday, June 26 after his first Mass.)

  After ordination, Father Dave will likely receive a summer parish assignment in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, then return to school in the fall to earn this licentiate of sacred theology (STL) in marriage and family at the John Paul II Institute in Washington, D.C.

Farewell to Father Dan; Hello to Father Rick

  We also thank Father Dan for his (almost) four years of service in Butler. He will write a letter to you in next weekend’s bulletin, and we will have a farewell party for him at St. Conrad on Wednesday, June 29, at 7pm. (Click here for details and to RSVP.) His final day in Butler will be June 30. His new assignment at St. Aidan Parish in Wexford commences July 1, which is when we welcome Father Rick Thompson as our new parochial vicar. Father Rick will celebrate weekend Masses July 2-3.

Pastoral Care Director Sue Cadwallader Returns!

  Sue Cadwallader, our pastoral care director, has been medically cleared to return to ministry, and is easing her way back to work this month, thanks be to God!

Looking for Feedback from Those with Wheelchairs, Walkers, Canes

  We are considering altering our pew seating in St. Conrad and St. Michael churches to better accommodate those of us in wheelchairs, and/or in need of walking assistance (canes/walkers), so that there is more space to sit with loved ones when attending Mass or any other event in the church.

  We need your feedback. Ideally, what would you like to see us do to make it easier for you to navigate in and out of church seating? Do you prefer sitting in the front or back of the church? Should we shorten certain pews so that a wheelchair can be located at the end of the pew and out of the aisle? For those with walkers and canes, what do you suggest? Please reply to Gail Clendaniel at 724-482-2690 ext. 221 or GClendaniel@AllSaintsButler.org by July 15 with your feedback. 

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio

For bulletin messages from our clergy and staff, click here.

Major Changes

  As we announced last week at Masses, Father Dan has been reassigned by Bishop Zubik to serve as parochial vicar at St. Aidan Parish in Wexford, commencing July 1.

  A farewell reception will be held on Wednesday, June 29, at 7pm in the St. Conrad Social Center.

  We certainly appreciate his efforts at our parish through the merger process, particularly in the areas of technology (livestreaming), and reviving our youth and young adult JAL (Jesus Alive & Living) ministry, and offering adult faith formation opportunities via the ChristLife and Life in the Spirit programs as well as Theology on Tap events.

  We thank him and wish him the very best!

  Our new priest, Father Rick Thompson, is coming out of retirement to join us at All Saints Parish beginning July 1. He and his dog, a 10-year-old Golden Retriever named Honey, will live in the St. Conrad rectory. You will learn more about Father Rick in the coming weeks and months.

St. Stanislaus Property

  The sale of the St. Stanislaus property (church and rectory) in Lyndora is finally complete. The property was sold to Walk in Faith Ministries for $59,000. It took 30 months from start to finish to sell this property, as the process for closing and selling parish property, particularly a church building, is quite extensive and complex.

  The non-denominational Walk in Faith Ministries plans to create a community center focusing on youth outreach. Future plans include starting Embrace Grace, a program for pregnant women.

  Many religious items in the church building have already found new homes. We are very pleased that they will assist people in various ways of worship and community.

New Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries

  Please welcome Bryanna Urso to our parish as the new director of youth and young adult ministries.  She also will be assisting Sister Teresa with our faith formation program. This is Bryanna’s first job in ministry; she brings to our community great enthusiasm and a deep desire to spread her love of Christ to the Butler area. You will learn more about and hear from Bryanna in the coming weeks and months.

Continuing Recovery

  Our director of pastoral care, Sue Cadwallader, continues to recover from her stroke and now is at home! We – including Sue – hope that she will be able to return to ministry in the near future.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio
 

Volunteers Needed for 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run

     As details of our first annual All Saints Twilight 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run come into focus, we are asking for volunteers to help on race day with the following responsibilities:

• Registration ‒ 6 people to register participants and hand out race packets to pre-registered runners/walkers,
• Course monitors ‒ 20 people to make sure that runners and walkers follow the correct course,
• Cleanup ‒ 20 people to help collect the signs on the race course that includes the Butler Farm Show grounds and the St. Conrad campus. We also will need help with general cleanup on the St. Conrad campus.

     We are very excited for this evening, the community, health and wellness aspects of such an experience, and the fundraising purpose, which includes the establishment of a Butler Catholic School scholarship in the names of Sarah Kasunic and Emily Leyland.

     To sign up to volunteer, please go to tinyurl.com/5KVolunteers2022 or contact Kelly Livermore at 724-287-1759 ext. 124 or KLivermore@AllSaintsButler.org.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio
Pastor of All Saints Parish

Prayers for Our Director of Pastoral Care

     As some of you are already aware, Sue Cadwallader, our director of pastoral care, suffered a stroke a few weeks ago. She is currently at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville for rehabilitation, which includes both physical and occupational therapy.

     Please keep her in your prayers, and consider sending a card filled with well wishes to:

Sue Cadwallader, Room 7062
Forbes Hospital
2570 Haymaker Road
Monroeville, PA 15146

    Regarding pastoral care ministry in Butler (and the other responsibilities that Sue handled), we will do our best to fill the gaps with current staff members and volunteers until we have a better idea about Sue’s timeline for returning to serve our community.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio
Pastor of All Saints Parish

Happy Easter!

What the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ promises us is beyond intellectual capacity.  It appeals to the human and divine desire to sustain, or regain, the goodness of life to last forever!

Through the eyes of faith, and in the spirit of faith in the reality of Resurrection, may we join with Jesus in his victory over death, and our shared victories over the death of sin in our lives now, and after our time is done on earth, when we receive the fullness of life in total communion with our triune God who is Love itself.

A few weeks ago at the Masses I celebrated I read from a book written by Rev. Henri J.M. Nouwen titled "In the Name of Jesus." I highly recommend any of the books that he has written if you desire to grow deeper in love with Love itself as we all journey through life.

I pray for you daily.
 

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio
Pastor of All Saints Parish

Journey of Faith

     This weekend is the first of three Scrutinies that the Church has in place for catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates (baptized and desiring full reception in the Church) who are currently in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program.
    A Scrutiny is a ritual that is celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent.  We will have each Scrutiny at the 10am Mass at St. Paul Church.
    Our catechumens and candidates will be coming into full communion with the Catholic Church by receiving the Sacraments of Initiation — baptism (for some), Holy Communion and Confirmation — at our Easter Vigil.
    Please pray for, congratulate, and welcome our men and women who are taking another step deeper into their journey of faith in Jesus Christ and his Church:

Dick Ashe, Abigail Gardener, Luke Gorman, Nicholas Jacox, Rebekah Klein, Heather Parsons, David Sherman, Jennie Spohn, David Walowen
 

I pray for you daily.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio
Pastor of All Saints Parish

Congratulations to Mike Kaufman

     Congratulations to Mike Kaufman for taking another key step on the road to becoming ordained a deacon.

     At a special Mass on March 3, Bishop David Zubik formally installed Mike and his fellow candidates in the Deacon Class of 2022 in the Ministry of Acolyte. The installation Mass was held at St. Matthew Parish.

     The primary role of a duly instituted acolyte is to attend to the service of the altar and to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations, especially in the celebration of Mass.

     Let us pray for Mike as he continues his journey toward becoming a deacon.

Welcome to Judy Gschnell

     Please welcome our newest employee, Judy Gschnell.

     Judy joined our staff as the daytime administrative assistant at our main office at St. Paul Church where she will be answering phones and the door, along with a plethora of other administrative duties, from Mondays through Fridays.

     Judy formerly worked for 7 years as an accounting associate for the Felician Sisters of North America in Beaver Falls. For nearly 11 years, she served as the executive secretary to the president of Vogel Disposal Services in Mars.  A graduate of Butler Area Senior High School, Judy also worked as an associate manager at Altmeyer’s Bed, Bath & Home in Butler.

     The next time you are in the St. Paul office, please be sure to welcome her.

Safe Environment Clearances

     We follow a Savior whose love for children was so great that he called all of us to become like them, and warned that it would be better to drown than to cause harm to their souls. This is why for many years the Diocese of Pittsburgh has exceeded all child protection requirements of both civil law and the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

     If you are volunteering at All Saints Parish – whether you are working at our All Saints Parish Fish Fry or you plan to help out with our Parish Picnic and 5K in July or participate in other parish activities or ministries ‒ you must have your clearances.

     We do this because we are entrusted by God with the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of children as they participate in activities sponsored by our parish and diocese. It is our responsibility and commitment to provide an environment that is safe and nurturing and to ensure that children in the care of the Church come to no harm of any kind.

     You can start the clearances process by reaching out to our safe environment coordinator, Georgene Natali, at GNatali@AllSaintsButler.org or 724-482-2690 ext. 223. Georgene has helped many people through this process; she understands that you might have questions and she will happily answer them. 

     I pray for you daily.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio
Pastor of All Saints Parish

Lent is Here!

     While Lent is a solemn, penitential and sacrificial season in the life of the Church, we do have some good news to share:

     Deacon Jim Shope has recovered his health enough to return home!

     He, his wife Carol, and their family have been through an awful lot since his health struggles began in early October. He has suffered through numerous surgeries on his stomach and colon (90% of his colon has been removed); suffered brain injury; pneumonia; and COVID. He was on intravenous fluids for nutrition for over two months.

    Deacon Jim now is tasked with gaining weight and strength at home. He is in good spirits, conversing and as cognizant as ever.

    Carol, who has been by his side throughout, also has faced health issues. We are grateful to hear that she is coming to the end of her cancer treatments.

    The two of them can now focus on returning to good health in the comfort of their own home.

     Thanks be to God for the healthcare professionals, and for the many people who have kept Deacon Jim and Carol in prayer during this challenging time.

     I pray for you daily.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio
Pastor of All Saints Parish

 

Lent is Here!

     Please join us during this Lent however you can to grower deeper in love with the heart of Jesus Christ and with his Mystical Body, the Church.

     We have many opportunities to do so through prayer, sacrament, volunteering, and participating in parish and community life with a spirit of love.

     Browse through the bulletin and visit our website for a complete list of the aforementioned events happening at All Saints Parish and in the Butler community this Lent.

     I pray for you daily.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio
Pastor of All Saints Parish

Synod on Synodality

     Please consider signing up and participating in one of our two parish meetings on the “Synod on Synodality” that every parish in every diocese around the world is expected to host in the coming months.

     These meetings are in response to Pope Francis’ invitation to every Catholic to advise him on how to discern the Church’s path forward in advance of a 2023 Synod of Bishops.

     As you can imagine, this is a very ambitious global undertaking!

     All Saints Parish will host two sessions:

• Monday, February 21, at 6:30pm at the St. Michael the Archangel hall
• Sunday, February 27, at 12:30pm at the St. Andrew hall

     If you are interested in attending either session, please register by clicking here or call 724-482-4690 ext. 221. This helps us to plan ahead regarding setup and refreshments.

     The sessions will have a facilitator and notetakers to keep the objectives and flow of the meeting moving in the direction outlined in the Participant Guide that is available to you online and in our offices. 

     Upon completion of the meetings, the facilitator and notetakers will synthesize the feedback they receive and compile it into a report that will be submitted to the diocesan Synod committee. It will then synthesize information received from parishes around our diocese and forward a report to a Synod committee in Rome, which will eventually report to the pope.

     Each session is to last approximately two hours with an agenda that includes an introduction and welcome, opening prayer, overview of the Synod process, small group discussions on fundamental questions and core topics. It will conclude with what is being called an “honorable closure” and closing prayer.

     May we be open to the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit through this synodal process, and at all times in our lives.

Fish Fry

     Our Lenten Fish Fry is back, beginning on Friday, February 25, at our St. Conrad campus!

     The setup will be similar to last year’s. You will be able to order takeout online at AllSaintsButler.org/fish-fry and then pick up your order without getting out of your vehicle ‒ just pull into the St. Conrad parking lot and follow the lot attendants’ directions. 

     You also will be able to park and go inside St. Conrad Social Center, place your takeout order and pick up your food to take home.

     Please consider purchasing meals for you and your family from us during Lent, and/or volunteering as often as you can by signing up at tinyurl.com/AllSaintsFishFry2022. Volunteers who don’t have a computer can call the St. Conrad office at 724-482-2690 ext. 221 to sign up.

      I pray for you daily.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio
Pastor of All Saints Parish