Faith and Culture

Where Are the Fathers?

More kids than ever are raised without dads. And even when both parents are around, it’s Mom who takes the kids to church, not Dad. We can’t save our culture without good fathers.
Fr. Dave Pivonka knows just how high the stakes are. From years of working with guys at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and helping people like me get ready for marriage, he’s got his pulse on what we need to do about the culture today – starting with the men.


Click the image above any time of day to view the latest Mass from Catholic TV. 

Please Pray for Vocations!

The above list is the latest update from the diocese as of August of 2024 from Susan O'Neil.

Bishop Zubik ordained these 9 men pictured below on Saturday, Oct 5, 2024.

Click on the image above to view the Ordination Mass on YouTube!

I would like to reflect on a King and an ass. A donkey, an ass, was in Jesus time much what it is today: a humble, simple, unassuming little animal, used by very ordinary people to do their work. The wealthy and powerful might own horses or a team of oxen and a political leader might ride a stately steed, but none of them would have anything to do with donkeys.

All of his public career, Jesus had resisted when people called him the Messiah. He sternly ordered them to be silent. When they came to carry him off and make him King, he slipped away. But he is willing to accept these titles precisely at the moment when he rides into Jerusalem on an ass. The Gospel is clear: this is not only an ass; it is a colt, the foal of an ass, on whom no one had ever previously sat. This is a young, inexperienced, unimpressive donkey. And this is the animal upon whom Jesus rides into town in triumph.

This is no ordinary King; this is not the Messiah that they expected.

Now let us look even more closely at the ass. Jesus tells two of his disciples to go into a neighboring town and to find this beast of burden. "If anyone asks, respond, 'the Master has need of it.'" The humble donkey, pressed into service, is a model of discipleship. Our purpose in life is not to draw attention to ourselves, to have a brilliant career, to aggrandize our egos; rather our purpose is to serve the Master's need, to cooperate, as he sees fit, with his work.

What was the donkey's task? He was a Christopher, a Christ-bearer. He carried the Lord into Jerusalem, paving the way for the passion and the redemption of the world. Would anyone have particularly noticed him? Probably not, except perhaps to laugh at this ludicrous animal.

The task of every disciple is just the same: to be a Christopher, a bearer of Christ to the world. Might we be unnoticed in this? Yes. Might we be laughed at? Of course. But the Master has need of us and so we perform our essential task.

-from Bishop Robert Barron

                                       Memory Lane!            

As we approach Thanksgiving, we reflect on the days of the past when at St Athanasius Parish offered Thanksgiving Dinner to all those who wished to join us down in Athanasian Hall. So many great volunteers gave of their precious time on Thanksgiving Day to warm the hearts of those in our community!

Deacon Bill Homily Archive

Here are four recent homilies. Hover over the icons below to see the dates and topics.

Take a Step Back and Reflect

Thanks for visiting, and remember...

God loves you right where you are!

                                                                                        Deacon Bill Palamara 412-596-3370

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