From Father George's Desk 10/25/2026

With Election Day right around the corner, I remind everyone that it is the policy of the Diocese of Greensburg that only voter guides published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, or the Diocese of Greensburg may be distributed in parishes and other diocesan institutions.  This is for reasons of both U.S. civil law and the Church’s canon law.  While Catholics are strongly encouraged to be engaged in the political process by being informed on the issues of the day and by voting regularly, the Church does not endorse candidates for public office.  It is also totally permissible to actively campaign for candidates of your choice, but not on Church property.  No dissemination of political materials or active politicking on parish property is permitted, including the leafleting of cars.  We do not have the resources to police our parking lots to prevent leafleting so if you do find such literature when you come out of Mass, please know that this activity was done without permission and should not in any way be seen as the diocese, this parish, or yours truly endorsing the candidacy of any politician or political party.  I ask all parishioners to please be respectful of this policy. 

The month of November is dedicated to All Souls.  As we approach this annual commemoration, you are invited to write the names of deceased loved ones in our Books of Remembrance, located near the baptismal fonts at both Holy Family and St. John.  At every Mass in November, as we pray for the dead, we will especially remember those whose names are written in our books.  Please take the opportunity through All Saints Day to add to our Book of Remembrance anyone you would like the parish to pray for.

Our annual All Souls’ Masses of Remembrance will be celebrated during the week of November 2: at St. John on Wednesday, November 4 at 6:30PM and at Holy Family on Thursday, November 5 at 6:30PM; at these Masses we will remember in a special way each person buried from the parish since last All Souls’ Day.  Everyone invited and encouraged to attend this annual commemoration.

Our Fall Anointing Mass will celebrated on Saturday, November 7 at 10:00AM at St. John.  These Masses not only provide more chances to celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of Sick but also present a wonderful opportunity raise the awareness and understanding of the sacrament.  All too often we think this sacrament is only for those at the point of death, however, “This sacrament gives the grace of the Holy Spirit to those who are sick: by this grace the whole person is helped and saved, sustained by trust in God, and strengthened against the temptations of the Evil One and against anxiety over death.  Thus the sick person is able not only to bear suffering bravely, but also to fight against it. [Pastoral Care of the Sick #6]