CHRIST THE DIVINE SHEPHERD PARISH

Please Pray for The Way

This weekend, a number of our parishioners are taking part in The Way retreat. Please keep them, the retreat team, and everyone helping behind the scenes in your prayers. I am grateful to everyone who accepted the invitation. Pray that the Lord gives each participant exactly what he or she needs.

The Organ at Saint Susanna
Josh continues his helpful explanation this week of the organ that will be moved from the former Saint Anselm Church to Saint Susanna. The new organ will give us more options and better support the prayer and singing of the congregation. The move will require relocating the organist and removing several pews, while the cantor and space for additional musicians will remain in front. I encourage you to read Josh’s article, and please feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Parish Picnic
Our parish picnic is Sunday, September 13, at Monroeville Community Park West. Registration is due by September 6. Please plan to join us and bring family or friends. We usually have a very good time!

Bishop Eckman’s Visit
Bishop Mark Eckman will visit our parish on Thursday evening, September 17. More details will be coming soon, but please mark your calendars and plan to help us welcome our bishop.

Fest PGH 2026
I especially want to encourage our families, teenagers, and young adults to attend Fest PGH 2026 at F.N.B. Stadium on Saturday, September 19. Gates open at noon, with music from Switchfoot, Jervis Campbell, The Arcadian Wild, The Scally Brothers, and Josh Blakesley. It looks like it will be a really good day. The event is free, but everyone must register for a ticket at FestPGH.org. Parents, consider making a day of it with your children, and young people, invite some friends and go together!

Interested in Becoming Catholic?
If you have been thinking about becoming Catholic—or know someone who has—please reach out to Deacon Mike or to me. Asking a question does not commit you to anything. It simply begins a conversation. Our new OCIA season begins soon, and we can work with many different circumstances.

Thank You for Your Generosity
You will find two financial reports in this week’s bulletin, including a report from our parish and school festival. Thank you for your continued generosity to our parish and for the tremendous support of the festival. The wildfire smoke required significant last-minute adjustments, and I am especially grateful to everyone who volunteered, donated, attended, and remained flexible. The festival brought our parish and school together and welcomed many people from the wider community. Thank you to everyone who made it possible.

Please continue to pray for one another, especially our parishioners who are ill, hospitalized, homebound, or carrying burdens that most of us cannot see. Please know that I continue to keep all of you in my prayers, and I am grateful for yours.

God bless,
Fr. Mike