From the Pastor's Desk (3/8/26)

From the Pastor's Desk
3/1/26

The Thirst of Christ
On this Third Sunday of Lent, Jesus meets the Samaritan woman (Jn 4:5-42) at the well not only to quench her thirst but to reveal his own. He thirsts for her faith, her love, her soul. This encounter echoes through every Lenten journey – Christ stands beside the wells of our lives, asking us to be honest, to open our hearts and to receive living water. St. Teresa of the Andes understood this deep exchange. In her brief life, she found in Christ the wellspring that never ran dry. She saw that true refreshment wasn’t found in perfect circumstances, but in the God who meets us in our thirst. Lent is a time to admit what we lack and allow Jesus to fill it. Whether we thirst for peace, healing, or meaning, his love waits patiently. Today, let us come to the well – not hiding our sin or shame, but ready to receive the water that leads to eternal life. (Growing in Faith, All Saints Press, 2026)
 
A Prayer for the Third Sunday of Lent
Loving Father, so many times I turn away from you and always you welcome me back. Your mercy and love give me confidence. Thank you for the invitation to share, fast and pray so that you can form a new heart within me. Your powerful compassion for my weaknesses leads me to ask for mercy and await the great hope of Easter joy you share with us. Amen.
 
Lenten Wednesday Evening Mass Guest Homilists
This week, we welcome Father Michael R. Peck, Senior Parochial Vicar at Corpus Christi Parish, as our second Celebrant and Homilist of our Wednesday Evening Lenten Mass Series. Father Miller will be preaching on “Fasting and Almsgiving” on Wednesday, March 11, at 6:30 PM at Our Lady of Fatima Church.
 
Giving to the Annual Parish Appeal
The 2026 Parish Appeal is underway across the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Each year we are assessed a percentage of our income in order to provide funds for the diocese, without which we do not exist, and which has no regular income. Here at Mary, Queen of Saints Parish, we rely on the contributions you provide through the Offertory Collection and online giving. Thank you for your generosity! But the Diocese of Pittsburgh does not have routine collections and so it must depend on its 60 parishes for financial support. Those of us who are Pastors are sometimes baffled by the attitude some people have about this. There are those who say, “I don’t want my money going to the Diocese.” But the reality is this: If you don’t contribute to the annual Parish Appeal, the Diocese takes its percentage anyway, because it has no other options. On the other hand, whatever funds we collet over our assessment goal is ours to keep. Please remember that this is what pays for our many maintenance projects and parish programs. To be sure, some parishioners are very generous to the Parish Appeal, because they know it goes directly to underwrite necessary services provided by the Diocese: the formation of future priests and deacons, property management, legal matters, canonical guidance, sacramental preparations, matrimonial concerns, Diocesan Archives, Parish Records and the list goes on. The bottom line is this: we cannot function as a parish without the assistance the Diocese provides for us. We owe them our support, regardless of how much we are able to give. 
 
MQSP Pastoral Council
After a two-month long Calling Forth Process, which included informational sessions, panel interviews and prayer, I am happy to announce the newly appointed members of our Parish Pastoral Council: Daniel D’Eramo, Louise Grant, Eric Hein, John Hertneky, Patricia Larkin, Shawn McCreary, Luke Palmer, Justin Rapko and Lauren Ronayne. These newly appointed members have a combination of three and four-year terms, as per the directives of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and their appointments were effective March 1. Their photos will be in the bulletin in a few short weeks as well as on the parish website and in each of our church vestibules. Please congratulate them and keep them in your prayers as they begin to serve the parish-at-large on this very important Advisory Council. 
 
Two Priests; Two Outstanding Vocations
The Diocese of Pittsburgh lost two outstanding priests in the month of February. Both men came from two very different backgrounds, but both offered extraordinary vocations to our local Church. On February 2, we lost Father Matthew Elanjileth, at the age of 107! Father Elanjileth came to our diocese from India in the 1960’s and was with us ever since. He was the longtime chaplain at UPMC McKeesport Hospital and continued to serve faithfully in local parishes well into his retirement. He was the oldest diocesan priest we’ve ever had in ministry. On February 18, we lost Father James Chepponis, one of the most prolific composers of Catholic liturgical music over the last 35 years. Serving as the Diocesan Director of Music since 1999, Father Chepponis was an amazing liturgist and pastor. Despite losing him at a young 69 years of age, he left us a beautiful legacy of music to help us praise the Lord. May both priests, who I was blessed to know and minister with, rest in the peace of Christ.
 
Taking the DMI Survey
Have you taken the Disciple Maker Index Survey yet? You have until Palm Sunday to complete this important survey. Details are in today’s bulletin. Take it today!