St. Margaret of Scotland Parish

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 16, 2008

School News

Our week begins with an All-School Mass on Monday to honor St. Margaret of Scotland.

On Wednesday we will have our third Chinese Auction in the school cafeteria. Tickets are $15.00. Please call the school if you have any questions.

Congratulations to the Varsity Soccer Team! They are undefeated Section 4 champs. They placed 2nd overall in the Diocesan World Cup Section playoffs! Great job team!

St. Margaret of Scotland Craft Show

Our 12th Annual Christmas Craft Show will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2008, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Browse through over 100 tables of crafts in the cafeteria and gym. There will be a delicious lunch available for purchase (haluski, pierogies, and hoagies.)

Some of the featured crafts will be: stained glass, jewelry, candles, American Girl doll clothes and much, much more.

Baked goods will be accepted anytime on Friday, December 5th, at the school between 8:00 am and 5:30 pm. Proceeds from the Craft Show benefit the school.

Veronica Veil Players

The Veronica Veil Players will present the comedy "If It's Monday, This Must Be Christmas" by Pat Cook on November 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23, 2008, in the Veronica Veil Auditorium (44 Pius St.- South Side.)

Admission to the play, which begins at 8:00 pm, is $12.50. Discounts are available for seniors and students. For information or reservations, call 412-431-5550 or email VVPlayers@aol.com.

Prayer Ministry

If you or a family member is ill and would like prayers said, please call Rosemary at 412-341-4214, with your intention. We have an active group of people in the ministry who are kind enough to pray for the needs and blessings of others. We thank them.

Hoagie Sale

Thank you to everyone who purchased a hoagie from the Youth Group last weekend.  We appreciate your continued support of our work and efforts.  God Bless.

Produce to People

The next Produce to People event with the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank will be on Saturday, November 22nd, from 8:10am - 12:30pm.  The Youth Group is in need of 8-10 volunteers to help with this community service event.  Please contact Robin at robin_sampogna@hotmail.com if you are interested in attending.

Gift Wrapping

Can you believe the holidays are just about here?

To help families during the holiday season, the Youth Group is going to try a new fundraiser in December. We will be wrapping Christmas gifts for donations, much like it is done at the Malls. Simply bring your gifts, with the "To" and "From" noted, as well as boxes if you'd like them wrapped in a box.  The Youth Group will provide the gift wrap.  We hope you will take advantage of our service and remain patient with us as we figure out all of the details throughout our first-time for this type of fundraiser.  Thank you in advance for your support!  The dates of our gift wrapping fundraiser will be:

Sunday, December 14, 2008
In the morning and early afternoon

Saturday, December 20, 2008
In the afternoon.

Sunday, December 21, 2008
In the morning and early afternoon.

Our other fundraisers in December will include a Christmas Baked Goods Sale and Luminary Sale for the Advent and Christmas seasons.  Keep an eye out for more details in upcoming bulletins.

CCD

Thanks to the CCD classes for all the Halloween candy they shared. It will be passed on to the Food Bank for families with children.

Calendars for the second half of the year were mailed home last week. If you'd like another or didn't get yours, just call the office and let us know. Classes are in session November 17 & 18, 24 & 25. On December 1 and 2, we have scheduled a home study.

Confirmation Families

Confirmation families: Please complete your Confirmation documents and get them to us as soon as possible. Due to our early date for Confirmation, (February 23) time is of the essence. We are grateful to the parents who have already turned in their information. Thank you.

Pre Baptism Class for Parents

A pre-baptism class will be held Sunday, December 7th, after the 12:15 pm Mass, in the Parish Office, for parents of children who wish to have their child baptized. Call 412-921-1613 to register for this class.

Advent Family Night

Come one and all to a very “Veggie” special Advent Family Night! Join us on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 6:30 pm, for a pajama party movie, "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything." Bring a blanket and a pillow or two, to the cafeteria and we can all watch our favorite vegetables teach us that with God all things are possible. Call to register, so we know how many from your family will be attending (412-921-1613.)

Remember Our Dead

John Devlin, brother-in-law of John Scully of our parish.

Religious Retirement Fund Collection

The second collection next weekend (November 23) will be for the Retirement Fund for the Religious.

Whether your life has been deeply impacted through a personal experience of women and men religious, or whether it has been indirectly affected by their influence, theirs is a need worthy of support. The influence of men and women religious is pervasive in both our church and our society. They put everyone else's needs above their own, without complaint or regret.
Religious communities continue to be a powerful influence in our church and society through their ministries. Fewer numbers are working full-time to support the majority who can no longer do so. Community living provides some economies of scale, but health care and living costs in most religious communities far exceed income. Please be as generous as possible in this year's collection.

Altar Flowers

The flowers at the foot of the Altar are given in memory of Karl Murhammer, from the staff of the Parish Office and School.

Help Wanted

Mt. Lebanon Montessori School is looking for an assistant teacher for children ages three through six. Competitive salary, spacious, fully equipped classrooms, collaborative and supportive administration and staff. Fax resume to 412-563-2858.

Attention Business Owners

Want a better way to direct your state tax dollars? The state legislature just passed a new addition to the Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program which permits C corporation, S corporation and now subchapter S businesses to give to your Catholic school from their tax bill.
Currently, the diocese receives $3 million a year in tuition assistance for our Catholic schools from area businesses.

Please consider this fabulous program which enables you to help build your schools.

Weekly Offering

Offertory $10,777.10
Parish Share $ 1,610.00

A Message from the Pastor

Happy Feast Day!

St. Margaret of Scotland was a noble queen. She was of Saxon or English descent, but was born in present-day Hungary. In 1070 King Malcolm married Margaret, making her the Queen of Scotland. St. Margaret cared not so much about her own wealth and power, but more about her faith in Jesus Christ. Like a good wife, St. Margaret was renowned for her moderating and good influence on her husband, the King. Malcolm and Margaret had eight children of their own, but Margaret's love for Christ moved her with a deep love for the poor. She is known for her love of the poor children in her kingdom. This love of Christ did not end with merely feeding the poor physically, but she fed them spiritually through her own life of prayer, fasting and devotion. She died around the age of 48, on November 16, 1093.

What a great patroness to be our model! May the love that St. Margaret had for her own faith and for the poor, guide us in our own lives. Believing that she is in heaven and close to God, we ask for her prayers for us, like she prayed on earth for the poor of her kingdom. May her example of holiness be a source of grace and spiritual renewal for us all.

Remember the Sick

Let us pray for those who are ill, especially for Fr. Dennis Bradley, the pastor at SS. Simon and Jude.

May God be with Fr. Bradley and all of the infirmed and may His healing presence bring them comfort.

Mass Intentions for November 15 - 23, 2008

Saturday, November 15, 2008
4:00 pm For the Living and Deceased Parishioners

Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
8:00 am Doris DiCello (Husband)
10:00 am Edmund Fritz (Barbara Burger)
12:15 pm Ken Lauth (Family)

Monday, November 17, 2008 - St. Elizabeth
9:00 am Tony Kaminski (Marge Steele)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - Dedication of the Basilicas of SS. Peter and Paul in Rome
9:00 am James J. Herrmann (Ruth Hostert and Linda Miklos)

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
9:00 am Joe Quinn (Wife)

Thursday, November 20, 2008
9:00 am Maggie Mizerski (Husband and Family)

Friday, November 21, 2008 - Presentation of the Blessed Virgina Mary
9:00 am Lucille Einloth (Daughter)

Saturday, November 22, 2008
4:00 pm Art Bichler (Family)

Sunday, November 23, 2008 - Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
8:00 am For the Living and Deceased Parishioners
10:00 am Lou and Harry Pasquarelli (Sister, Mary)
12:15 pm Genevieve Krystyniak (Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Kenny and Family)