Happy Father’s Day! 

My dad, Bill Burke is someone I have always looked up to. Growing up in Hazelwood and attending St. Stephen grade school and Central Catholic High School he has always been a man of deep prayer. After serving four years in the Navy, my dad became a Pittsburgh Police Officer and served the City of Pittsburgh for thirty years. He protected our streets, taught Police recruits at the Police Academy and founded the County of Allegheny Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on the North Shore near Heinz Field. My dad loves his family and his faith and is active at our home parish St. Norbert in Overbrook. 

Today we celebrate the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time and also celebrate Father’s Day. The readings focus on forgiveness and repentance and love. In the First reading from the Second Book of Samuel we read how King David repents and ask’ for forgiveness. 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus forgives the sinful woman. She touches Jesus as she washes his feet with her tears. Jesus looked beyond the sinfulness of the woman to see her great capacity for love, tenderness, and faith. Jesus confronts Simon the Pharisee who is self - righteousness and judgment. Jesus invites us to embrace the love which establishes the kingdom of God among us. 

God’s love is unconditional. God’s grace gives us the ability to acknowledge our need for forgiveness that helps us to open our hearts to receive the love and mercy of God. In order to recognize forgiveness, we have to acknowledge that we have a need for it. Let us come back to the Sacrament of Penance if it has been a while. Penance is not about lists of sins and numbers, but acknowledging our sinfulness, our broken relationships, our need to ask and seek reconciliation with others and God. 

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, Godfathers, and uncles! 

QuoVadis Days The Vocations Office of the Diocese of Pittsburgh is conducting a camp for young men entering or just graduating from high school July 7-10 at Gilmary Retreat Center in Moon Township. Come and spend time with other young high school men looking at the Lord’s call in your life while having a great deal of fun. Activities will include prayer, cookouts, pool and dodge ball tournaments, tug of war, and discussion. The cost for the camp is $25. For more information, contact Fr. Joe Freedy at 412-456-3000, ext. 3612. 

Catholic Extension Please pick up a copy of this special, commemorative Summer issue of Extension magazine in the back of the church. Extension is the flagship publication of Catholic Extension, which since 1905, has been strengthening Catholic faith communities in the poorest places across America. Featured is a story of two St. James parishioners, Ron and Cathy Tisch, who share their reflections on how living the Catholic faith through service led them to support the mission of Catholic Extension. You won’t want to miss these and other “stories of faith,” which demonstrate how truly important it is for us as Catholics to be present to one another and to the poor. Italian Dinner Dance St. James Parish will host an 

Italian Dinner Dance on Saturday, July 13 from 6:30 to 10:30pm in the school gym. Dinner will be provided by Gino’s Catering of Neville Island and entertainment by Mirella the Italian Musician. Tickets can be purchased before or after all weekend Masses or at rectory. 

Items Needed for Gift Baskets We are in need of unused “gifts” for our Italian Dinner gift basket table. If you have any items including lottery tickets, basket of cheer, and gift cards you can drop them off at the rectory. 

Notre Dame Vision Retreat This week I will be traveling with Maria Brown our Youth Minister and thirty-eight of our high school students to the University of Notre Dame for a Summer conference, Notre Dame Vision June 17-21. Please hold any calls and e-mails until I return. Be sure of my thoughts and prayers as I travel to northern Indiana. 

Congratulations Congratulations to Emily Marie Custer, Emily Elizabeth Loughney, Giavanna Rose Stone, and Cara Beth Walker who are being Baptized this weekend.

Birthday Wishes Happy Birthday to our school secretary, Marcy Knobloch! 

With God, All Things Are Possible! 

Fr. Tom Burke Pastor 

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Life After Death! 

Recently I conducted a funeral service in Ambridge. As I walked into the funeral home I was greeted with a huge welcome from the daughter of the deceased. She said “Fr. Tom, you witnessed my marriage ceremony ten years ago at St. Alphonsus in Wexford. I am so glad that you can be with us today for my father’s funeral. He is now at peace.” Her father and mother were married at St. James forty five years ago. 

Today we return to “Ordinary Time” as we celebrate the Tenth Sunday. All of the readings focus on life after death. In the First reading from the book of Kings we read how Elijah restored life to the son of the widow of Zarephath. This miracle prepares the way for the parallel the miracle in the Gospel. 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus shows pity on a widowed mother. Jesus restores life to her only son. This gospel is about the compassion of Jesus. Luke portrays Jesus as someone who is deeply affected by human suffering. 

Death is not final but is the beginning of a fuller and everlasting life. We share now in the risen life Jesus gives us through the Holy Spirit. At a time of death we may experience an apparent absence of God. Death can bring us closer to God. We grieve with hope, the hope that we shall see our loved ones again. Jesus is the source of eternal life. 

Life After Death! 

Please Note The Gathering Space and all meeting rooms will be off limits this week from June 10th through June 16th as our cleaning company prepares for their summer cleaning. 

New Parish Telephone Directory It gives me great pleasure to announce that our updated parish telephone directory has been completed and has been mailed to all registered parishioners. Please note if there are any corrections that need to made, please contact Karin or Sue at the office. The information in the telephone directory is the information taken from the census forms that were updated in 2008. It is very important to inform the office of any changes of names, addresses or telephone numbers. We have recently updated our new parishioner forms to include a box to be checked off if you would like your personal information to not be published in the future. This book is for parishioners to use as a resource. If you’ve not received one, please call the Rectory at (412)741-6650. 

Our 150th Anniversary parish pictorial directory is now at the printers and will be distributed very soon. Stay tuned! 

Anniversary Celebration Special thanks to all who participated in the Holy Hour, the Anniversary Mass and dinner last Sunday. Thank you to our chairperson Ruth Darragh and her committee for all of their hard work in planning our Anniversary celebrations throughout the year. Thank you to Belinda Thompson our Anniversary Mass and Banquet Chairperson and her committee for making last Sunday a very special day. 

St. James Parish is the Love of Christ, in the Heart of Sewickley!

Congratulations Congratulations to our 29 Eighth graders who graduated this past Tuesday from St. James School. This is the 100th graduating class. We wish them luck in their future endeavors. 

St. James Catholic School has concluded the 2012-2013 school year! Have a safe summer. See you in August! 

St. James School Registration St. James School is currently accepting registration for the 2013-14 school year. There is a three year old half day Preschool program and half day and new full day four year old Preschool program. St. James is an excellent place to start your child’s journey through social awareness, academics, and faith in a safe, loving environment. For more information and for a tour of the school please call (412)741-5540 extension 100. 

Save the Date! St. James Parish will host an Italian Dinner Dance on Saturday, July 13 from 6:30 to 10:30pm in the school gym. Dinner provided by Gino’s Catering of Neville Island and entertainment by Mirella the Italian Musician. Tickets can be purchased before or after all weekend Masses or at rectory during normal business hours. 

Wedding Bells Happy 63rd Anniversary to Bob and Jean Brown Happy 45th Anniversary to Bob and Kathy Basl Happy 40th Anniversary to John and Kathy Rumin

Birthday Wishes Happy Birthday to our Youth Minister, Maria Brown! 

With God, All Things Are Possible! 

Fr. Tom Burke Pastor 

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Welcome Bishop Zubik! 

Today is a glorious day for St. James Parish. We celebrate 150 years as a parish here in the Village of Sewickley and 100 years of Catholic education at St. James School. Throughout this past year we have held various celebrations, including the kick off Mass at War Memorial Park back in September, the Progressive Dinners in October, Light Up Night to kick off the Christmas Holidays in the Village in late November, the School Gala at the Allegheny Country Club in January, our Parish Mission with Paul Koleske and the St. James Alumni Dinner at the Edgeworth Country Club in March, the St. James Frames Art Show and Gallery Walk in April and now today we welcome our diocesan bishop, Bishop David A. Zubik to celebrate our 150th Anniversary Mass at 3pm. 

Special thanks to Ruth Darragh our Chairperson for the Anniversary and her committee for all of their hard work in making our celebrations throughout the year such a success. St. James Catholic Parish is definitely the Light of Christ in the Heart of Sewickley! 

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, “Corpus Christi.” The Eucharist is the center of our Catholic faith. This wonderful Sacrament which we celebrate on this day and at every Mass is a memorial, a living remembrance, of the Passion of our Lord. Jesus, by giving us his Body and Blood, gave us the possibility of new life. 

In the First reading from Genesis, we read that a pagan priest-king, Melchizedek offered bread and wine to Abraham. In the second reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Paul assures us that in the Eucharist the Body and Blood of Jesus becomes present to us. Jesus is truly present, body and blood, soul and divinity. Whenever we eat of this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death, his total gift of self to us and for us, until he comes again. 

In the Gospel of Luke, we read the famous miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes. By taking, blessing, breaking, and giving bread and fish, he foreshadows the total gift of his very self on the cross in the Eucharist. Discipleship is both accepting the abundance of what God gives us and living out the responsibility. We are transformed more perfectly into the presence of that risen Christ in other. 

The traditional name for today’s feast is “Corpus Christi” the Body and Blood of Christ. When we receive the Eucharist we receive Christ. The Eucharist can nourish us and strengthen us in life. We are spiritually fed when we come to church and when we leave church we can feed others by what we say and do. 

Let us appreciate what we have each and every day. Be nourished and fed by the Lord! 

Corpus Christi Holy Hour Celebrating the Year of Faith, Bishop Zubik will be participating in a Holy Hour here at St. James beginning at 1:00 PM this Sunday on the Feast of Corpus Christi. Please plan to stop by to pray and be with the Lord. 

St. James School Board of Advisors Sister Christy Hill and I are pleased to announce the members of our new Board of Advisors: Kim Lieb, Jessica Focer, Luci-Jo DiMaggio, Amy Garrison, Phil Susie, Jeff Zick, John Nicolaus, Clay Saftner, and Vince Roskovensky. These individuals will advise the Pastor and Principal on school matters such as Advancement, Academic, Recruitment and Retention, Building and Grounds, and Finances. We welcome them to this new board and look forward to enhancing St. James School. Our first Board of Advisors meeting will be this Monday, June 3rd at 6:30pm in the Gathering Space. 

Looking Ahead Sunday, June 9th at 6:00 am - PCNC Cable Channel- “The Mass” with the Rev. Thomas J. Burke- Celebrant and St. James Choir members. 

Congratulations Congratulations to Brinsley Grace Benson who is being Baptized this weekend. 

Welcome Home A special St. James Welcome to the following who recently registered at St. James Parish: Nathan and Katherine Picarsic, and Jeffrey and Meghann Siulborski. 

Something to Think About… Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross 

With God, All Things Are Possible! 

Fr. Tom Burke Pastor 

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From Columbia Gas is a notice that due to significant upgrades of existing facilities in our neighborhood, that from Tuesday, May 28 to Friday, May 31 there will be no access to Route 65 from Walnut Street.

All traffic will be rerouted to Broad St.

Thank you for your understanding and for being a customer of Columbia Gas. If there are any questions you may call Sarah Perry - 724-416-6313 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

One plus one plus one equals… One! 

A few years ago I was giving a presentation on the Holy Trinity in a third grade classroom. During the question and answering session, a student raised their hand. I thought they were going to ask a question but the student shouted out “Fr. Tom, one plus one plus one equals… ONE!” Everyone chuckled. 

The Sunday after Pentecost is always the Feast of the Holy Trinity. It is one of those “mysteries of our faith” where we may not fully understand the whole meaning of it but we believe. The Trinity encourages us to reflect on the mystery of God’s own life and to reflect on how our ultimate vocation as God’s creatures is to share in divine life. 

In the First reading from Proverbs, we read that God’s wisdom reaches out to us. Through the gift of wisdom, God protects us and sustains us in life. The book of Proverbs purpose is to teach wisdom, the practical knowledge of how to love God and others. In the second reading from Romans, Paul reminds us that God the Father, together with his Son, has given us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit enables us to experience God’s love and to trust in all circumstances in life. 

In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares that he has much more to tell his disciples. This gospel passage is from the Last Supper Discourse in which Jesus reveals to his disciples that he will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to them when he returns to his Father. 

As we celebrate the Most Holy Trinity, let us remember to keep the faith and that God is truly present in us each and every day. 

One plus one plus one equals… One! 

St. James School Board of Advisors Sister Christy Hill and I are pleased to announce the members of our new Board of Advisors: Kim Lieb, Jessica Focer, Luci-Jo DiMaggio, Amy Garrison, Phil Susie, Jeff Zick, John Nicolaus, Clay Saftner, and Vince Roskovensky. These individuals will advise the Pastor and Principal on school matters such as Advancement, Academic, Recruitment and Retention, Building and Grounds, and Finances. We welcome them to this new board and look forward to enhancing St. James School. Our first Board of Advisors meeting will be Monday, June 3 at 6:30pm in the Gathering Space. 

Twelve Years! On May 26, 2001 at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland, Thomas Joseph Burke was ordained a Priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Bishop Donald W. Wuerl. My first Mass was celebrated at St. Norbert Church in Overbrook where I grew up. As I celebrate my Twelfth Anniversary today I am very grateful for God calling me to be a priest. It has been a wonderful journey so far serving in various capacities including: Parochial Vicar at St. Alphonsus in Wexford 2001-2004, Parochial Vicar at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland 2004-2008, Co-Director of Vocations 2003-2008, Pastor at Good Shepherd in Braddock 2008-2012, and Pastor of St. James in Sewickley 2012- Present. 

I have also held various “extra duties” including a member of the Priest Council and College of Consultors, Chaplain to the Catholic Committee on Scouting, Pittsburgh Police Department and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Board of Director at the Holy Family Institute in Emsworth and the Pittsburgh Athletic Association in Oakland. Please continue to pray for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious Life. 

Memorial Day Observances The Rectory offices will be closed on Memorial Day and will reopen again on Tuesday, May 28th at 8:30am. 

Also, due to the Memorial Day holiday, there will be no 7:30pm Mass or Novena that night either. 

Corpus Christi Holy Hour Celebrating the Year of Faith, Bishop Zubik will be participating in a Holy Hour here at St. James beginning at 1:00 PM next Sunday on the Feast of Corpus Christi. Please plan to stop by to pray and be with the Lord. 

You’re Invited! Please join us next Sunday, June 2nd at 3pm for the closing Mass our St. James Parish 150th Anniversary and St. James School 100th Anniversary celebrated by Bishop Zubik. (Please note that this Mass does count for the Sunday Obligation). Following the Mass will be a banquet at the Allegheny Country Club. 

Congratulations Congratulations to Teagan Annmarie Stepanek who was Baptized this past week. 

Welcome Home A special St. James Welcome to the following who recently registered at St. James Parish: Corbin and Meredith Miller, Mary Whitaker, Scott, Claudine & Grayson Beatty and Barry Pitek and Randy Bennett. 

Something to Think About… There’s only one way to develop trust. You need to experience it, need to see it, and need to live it. Urban Meyer 

With God, All Things Are Possible! 

Fr. Tom Burke, Pastor 

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