Welcome to Saints Peter and Paul Parish!

MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday:
8:00 AM
10:00 AM

Saturday Vigil:
4:00 PM
 Weekdays:
8:00 AM Monday, Tuesday, Friday

6:00 PM Thursday

8:00 AM Wednesday - Communion Service

Holy Days:
As scheduled
Confessions:
Thursdays at 5:00 PM
Saturdays at 3:00PM

400 South 4th Street
Philipsburg, PA 16866
(814) 342-1700

Fr. John Gibbons,  Administrator
Deacon Jerry Nevling
Jerry Craven, Director of High School Religious Education
Kristen Carter, Director of Elementary Religious Education
Laurie Wasilko, Office Manager
George Wasilko, Director of Maintenance


EASTER MESSAGE from Fr. John


On behalf of the staff at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, I want to wish all of you a happy and blessed Easter. 


In the Resurrection story from St. John’s Gospel, (20:1-9), Peter and John run to the tomb after they hear from the women that Christ is no longer in the tomb.  They did not realize that He had been raised from the dead by His Father. When they entered the tomb, they saw that Jesus was gone.  However, in the corner, they saw the cloth that covered his head rolled up neatly in a separate place.  In some versions of this Gospel, it is described as being folded up like a napkin.


Why is this seemingly insignificant event, the folding of the cloth so important? In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy, including Jesus, knew this tradition.


When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the folded napkin meant, that the Master was coming back. By folding the cloth, Jesus is telling us that He too is coming back.  This is the true joy of Easter.  Not just that Jesus was raised from the dead, but that He is coming back to get all of us and bring us with him back to Father for all eternity.  Alleluia, Christ is risen and even more importantly, He is coming back.  Let us all rejoice.

HOLY WEEK & EASTER SCHEDULE


Holy Thursday, April 1st          7:00 P.M.         Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Good Friday, April 2nd             Noon               Veneration of the Cross

Good Friday, April 2nd             7:00 P.M.         Stations of the Cross

(The Cross will be carried around the Church and nails will be hammered into the Cross.)

Saturday, April 3rd                   Noon               Blessing of Easter Baskets

Saturday, April 3rd                   3:00 P.M.         Confessions

Saturday, April 3rd                   4:00 P.M.         Easter Mass

Saturday, April 3rd                   7:30 P.M.         Easter Vigil

         (Please bring a flashlight or use your phone since candles will not be used.)

Sunday, April 4th                     8:00 A.M.        Mass

Sunday, April 4th                   10:00 A.M.        Mass

ONGOING MEASURES TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY
WHEN OUR CHURCH OPENS ON JUNE 13

 
As we prepare for the opening of our church for masses starting Saturday, June 13 at 4PM. I want to ensure you that the parish staff and I have taken many steps to ensure your health and safety.  Here are the steps we have taken: 

1.     No obligation to attend mass on Sundays is still in effect.
2.     Holy water removed from all the fonts in the church.
3.     There will not be a collection taken during mass.  Offertory baskets are placed in the front and back of Church for you to place your offering.  Again, I truly appreciate all the support you have provided to our parish during his most difficult time.
4.     There will not be the presentation of the gifts.
5.     Alternate pews are roped off for social distancing.  Related persons residing in the same house may be seated together without physical distancing.  Please do not remove or alter the roped off pews. If your normal pew is roped off, you will get a different view of the mass!!
6.     No sign of peace.  We will say some prayers in lieu of the sign of peace.  These prayers will be said for the end of this virus.
7.     All persons entering the church must wear a mask. Fr. will wear a mask during the distribution of communion.
8.     Please receive Holy Communion in the hand.
9.     Missalettes have been removed and a handout for the Order of Worship will be available when you enter the Church.  It will also be the weekly bulletin. Please take these with you when you leave the Church or place them in the trash baskets at the end of mass.
10.  Hand sanitizers have been placed at the entrances to the Church for all to use when entering and leaving the Church.  Fr. will use hand sanitizer throughout the mass, especially before the distribution of communion.
11.  Pews and door bars are sanitized as often as possible.
12.  Only one family per mass permitted to use the Cry Room.
13.  Fr. John and Deacon Jerry will have their temperature taken on a regular basis to ensure they are healthy before conducting mass or communion services.
 
I know these are difficult times for all of us and that these changes are for your safety.  If there is anything else you feel should be done in addition to these, please email me your suggestions. I also realize that regardless of the steps we have taken, some of you will still be uncomfortable coming to mass.  I understand and respect your decision. Please continue to watch mass at home
and when you do feel comfortable, we look forward to seeing you.

Fr. John