Pilgrimage on the Mount

Sister Ruth Plante, Provincial, Sisters of the the Order of St. Basil the Great at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa., told pilgrims to the 84th annual Pilgrimage on Sept. 1 she still runs to her mother. “I know that … Continue reading →

Concern, Hope

I think it’s human nature to believe you’re the only person who has ever endured a troubling situation, whether it be at home, school, or work. As I listened to priests, deacons and faithful from the Archeparchy’s 73 churches for … Continue reading →

“Won’t you be my neighbor?”

I suspect everyone has a Mr. Rogers story. Yes, that Mr. Rogers, host and creator of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, ” which ran for 31 seasons and was produced at the WQEDTV studios in Pittsburgh, Pa. I grew up on Fred … Continue reading →

“Renew, Revitalize, Rejuvenate”

Preparations continue for Assembly 2018 in September “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” — Saint … Continue reading →

Not-so-happy camper

I’ve never been the outdoors type. To me, “ r o u g h i n g it” equates to having to wait an extra 10 seconds for the On Demand selection to load on my television. The one time … Continue reading →

“The Golden Ticket” of Twitter

When I log onto Twitter, it sometimes feels as if I’m stepping into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. The environment of the Wonka workspace, as seen in Roald Dahl’s novel and two motion pictures, is bright and colorful while at the … Continue reading →

A wave hello to begin the day

Notes to self: Every day when I come to work, I always pay attention to a school crossing guard stationed at one of the intersections on the North Side of Pittsburgh, Pa. She definitely looks like any other crossing guard … Continue reading →

“Our aim is growth in the Church”

Preparations Continue For Assembly 2018 Deacon Dennis Prestash believes the mission for the Byzantine Catholic Church in the 21st Century is clear. “Our aim is growth in the church,” he said. How this growth and vitality is achieved will be … Continue reading →

Mission of mercy

St. Gregory Parishioners Provide Medical Care in Honduras. When Anne Hast and her daughter, Rachel, traveled to Honduras last summer to assist in a medical mission, they woke up at 4 a.m. each day. From June 17 to 24, … Continue reading →

From Boston to Rome

Christopher Russo met Father Will Rupp, Director of Spiritual Formation at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pa., as a student at Penn State University. He said it was “amazing” to talk to Father Will, who was serving as Eastern Catholic chaplain in Happy Valley, and see how his spiritual mentorship
benefited young people.

“During that time, I greatly benefited from the spiritual and Catholic ministries they had there. Just how the chaplains were able to talk to (young adults) and inspire them and be close to them in different challenges they had, both spiritual and personal.

“That really benefits people to have that type of mentorship for that type of pivotal points in their lives.” It’s a message Christopher, 23, of Boston, Mass., hopes to deliver as a delegate to a Pre-Synod meeting in Rome from March 19 to 24. He is one of only four young adults — and the only Byzantine Catholic — from the United States who will join about 300 others ranging from age 18 to 29 from around the world in a series of meetings prior to the Syond of Bishops’ “Synod 2018 on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment” in October. Continue reading →