"> Georgiann Benkovic – Prince of Peace

Author: Georgiann Benkovic

Diocese of Harrisburg

Feasibility Study

Priority: Our Diocese has 32 Catholic schools serving over 9,000 children, guided by 1,000 devoted teachers and staff. In our schools, children receive more than an excellent academic education. They are formed into future Church leaders, strong Catholic disciples, and compassionate adults.

Our schools also face undeniable realities: financial pressures on parishes, aging facilities, rising cost, and a need for financial aid to meet increasing demand, unlock EITC and grant opportunities, invest in educators and leadership, and enrich curriculum and faith formation.

Priority: Cathedral renovations, diocesan infrastructure and parish initiatives are an integral part of the proposed diocesan-wide campaign. The Cathedral of Saint Patrick is our mother church, a place where the faithful from across the diocese can gather and unite as one. Built in 1907, the building is a grand structure and a symbol of our faith. As we approach the bicentennial of the parish, we are called to honor its legacy and ensure the beauty and hospitality of this sacred space for future generations.

Share your feedback on these import initiatives by completing the feasibility study survey at: steiergroup.com/survey and select Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg.

Sunday, March 1

Second Sunday of Lent

Be a Blessing

I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. GENESIS 12:2

The Lord desires greatness for us–to become holy and saints. We don’t necessarily want the Lord to make our name great–we value humility–but we should desire to become a blessing to others.

Before we can bless others, we must first recognize how we’ve been blessed by God and those around us. We’ve received countless blessings: life, faith, hope, love, joy and peace. Can you recall how God has blessed you? Or how someone has inspired your life with kindness?
Think of Peter, James and John at the Transfiguration. What a blessing to witness that glory. Later, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, they were sent to share the blessing of his life with the world.

Who is God asking you to bless today, tomorrow or next week? And to whom have you already been a blessing? This Lent bless someone with your presence, your encouragement, your love or your service.

Fr. Edward Looney, Living Faith Daily Catholic Devotions

What Does It Mean to Be Catholic?

What Does It Mean To Be Catholic? 

The Catholic Church was founded by Christ and his Apostles.  There are four marks or characteristics of the Church, and we are reminded of them each time we pray the Nicene Creed at Mass.

One:  Means all members are united as the Body of Christ, given life by the one Spirit.  We acknowledge one Lord, one faith, one Baptism.

Holy: Means the Church is centered on God.  It is Christ who, by his sacrifice, makes the Church holy.

Catholic:  Means universal.  The Church is for all times and all people.  The Church is “the fullness” of the means of salvation”. (CCC830)

Apostolic:  Means the Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles.  We teach the doctrine of Jesus as it has been handed down through the apostles and their successors, the pope and bishops.

Each Catholic is called to full and active participation in the life of the Church and has the right and responsibility to:

1.) Attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation.

2.  Confess your sins, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a least once a year.

3.  Receive the Eucharist.

4. Observe the days of fasting Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstinence on Ash Wednesday in Lent established by the Church.

5. Help to provide for the needs of the Church

Encountering Christ and being a witness to his love means we are called to live like Jesus and work for justice and peace in this world by living the 10 commandments, the Beatitudes, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

We are called to stand for the: Life and dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community and Participation, Rights and Responsibilities of the Human Person, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, Dignity of Work and Rights of workers, Solidarity of the Human Family, Care for God’s Creatures.

 

Infant of Prague

It was a little painted statue and stood a foot and a half high, was dressed in exquisite court dress, and cherished as an heirloom wedding gift. It came from Spain during an early spread of devotion to the Christ Child.

In the 17th century, a Spanish noblewoman named Isabel Manrique gave this little statue to her daughter Marie when Marie married a Czech noble. Marie gave it, in turn, to her own daughter Polyxena when the later married.

Polyxena treasured it for many years, but at last gifted it to the Carmelite monastery of Our Lady of Victory.

Shortly afterward the Czech kingdom was invaded by the Saxons, forcing the Carmelites to flee their monastery. The statue of the Christ Child, damaged and tattered was left behind in the ruins of the church.

Ten years later in 1638, a Carmelite priest found it. He took it to his church in Prague and displayed it by the altar.

Suddenly, as he knelt in prayer before it, the statue spoke, saying: “Have mercy on me and I will have mercy on you. Give Me My hands and I will give you peace. The more you honor Me the more I will bless you.”

After this, many miracles were reported to have been wrought through the statue and devotion to the Christ Child increased all the more.

Many saints, such as Therese of Lisieux and Francis of Assisi, were greatly devoted to the Infant Jesus. Nurture love for the Child Jesus in your own home.

The Catholic Company: Bite-Sized Faith

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

Spiritual Communion:

     My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.  I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.  Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

    I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.

     Never permit me to be separated from You.  Amen.

Blessed Virgin Mary Grotto

Dear Friends

Visit our Grotto at Prince of Peace Parish-Assumption of the BVM Church. Pray to our Blessed  Mother for peace in our country and the world and ask her assistance to bring friends and families who are not practicing their faith to return to her Son, Our Lord Jesus.

Our Blessed Virgin Mary Grotto is the Queen of Peace.

Sacrifice of the Mass

The Sign of the Cross and the Greeting tells us who we are as we gather to enter into the Mystery of Our Lord’s Death and Resurrection.

The Penitential Rite  gives us the opportunity to acknowledge our sinfulness as we approach the Sacrifice of Christ that destroys sin and bring us back into a relationship with God.

The Gloria is a hymn that leads us to praise glorify, adore, thank and ask our Triune God for all we, His sons and daughter, need as we beg His mercy.

The Opening Prayer or “Collect” collects the intentions of the people assembled and presents them to God by the priest who stands in persona Christi (in the person of Christ).

In the Reading of the Old Testament we hear the story of God’s covenant with His chosen people Israel and the revelation of Himself that speaks of His mercy and desire for their salvation.

The Responsorial Psalm is the faithful’s response of praise and thanksgiving to God’s Word in the First Reading . It reminds us that we are not passive listeners to the Word; we are in a relationship of love with the Word of God.

The Second Reading from the New Testament tells us of God’s New and Eternal Covenant forged in the Blood of His Son who is the Word Made Flesh.

The Gospel is a proclamation of an event from the life of Our Savior.  In the readings from Holy Scripture that are not taken from the Gospel, it is God who speaks to His people.  But when the Gospel is proclaimed, it is specifically Christ Jesus, true God and true man, who speaks to us.

The Homily is a vital part of the liturgy of the Mass that explains the Holy Scriptures and instructs us in the Faith.

The Profession of Faith (the Nicene Creed) is the ancient formula of beliefs that unites the people assembled with the Universal Church of all ages in their expression of their Faith in Christ.

General Intercessions or Prayer of the Faithful offers prayers to God for the Church the world, and the need of people both living and dead.

The Preparation Rite is the offering of the bread and wine brought to His altar by the priest on behalf of the people of God assembled.  The people participate in the offering by virtue of their baptism into the priestly people of God.

The Eucharistic Prayer makes present the Mystery of Our Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.  Christ’s Sacrifice of the Cross, His offering to the Faith of Himself for the salvation of the world is represented on the altar.  At the words of consecration the bread and wine brought to the altar become the Body Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.  The baptized are called to participate in the sacrifice of Christ that is made present through the ministry of the ordained priest.

The Our Father begins the Rite of Communion.  We are faithful to Jesus’ command to pray in the words He taught us.  The priest prays for deliverance from evil, peace, and freedom from anxiety as we wait for the coming of Christ Our Savior in glory.  The priest extends a greeting of Christ’s peace to all present in the assembly.  The faithful share a sign of peace with one another.  The priest comingles a portion of the Sacred Host that he has broken in the chalice of the Precious Blood. The faithful sing the Agnus Dei. “Lamb of God You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, grant us peace.”

Communion has arrived.  The faithful go forward to receive His Sacred Body.  This reception of the Holy Eucharist effects communion between the individual and God and among the individual members of the Body of Christ.

The priest then blesses the people in the name of the Holy Trinity and dismisses all to go forth to witness to Christ in the world.

No One is a mere spectator at Mass.  All of the baptized are invited to participate in the sacred Mysteries by full, conscious and active participation.  This participation is not limited to eternal expression.  It must also be an external expression of faith and devotion.  The mass is an awesome treasure! It is Christ’s work of salvation active in our midst!

Upcoming Parish Liturgical & Social Events

 Confessions are scheduled every Saturday in our Parish Church from 3 pm to 3:30 pm.  Our Saturday Vigil  Mass at 4:00 pm  and  Sunday Mass at 8:30 am  and 10:30 am will be celebrated in our Parish Church and the doors will open 1/2 hour prior to the start of Mass.

Croatian Masses are scheduled the first Sunday of each month at 5:00pm celebrated by Fr. Maurus Dolcic, TOR.  Confessions in the Croatian language will begin at 4:00pm.  This schedule may change periodically due to Fr. Dolcic’s other liturgical responsibilities.

Mass will be live streamed every Sunday morning at  10:30 am on our Facebook page, MyParish App and on our webpage (popsteelton.org).  For those of you who do not have a computer, you may listen to the Mass on your phone by calling the below toll free number:       1-855-635-1965

    You may tune your radio station to 90.7 FM and listen to the Mass in your car in the back parking lot. You would need to come into our Parish Church to receive the Holy Eucharist.

   Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Son of Man: Come, let us adore him, alleluia!

LITURGICAL SERVICES AND PARISH ACTIVITIES 2026:

Wednesday, March 4, 2026: Feast day of St. Casmir.

Thursday, March 5, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Friday, March 6, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Friday, March 6, 2026: Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction at 7:00pm

Saturday, March 7, 2026: Vigil Mass at 4:00pm for Third Sunday of Lent. Feast day of Saints Perpetua & Felicity.

Sunday, March 8, 2026: Third Sunday of Lent: Morning Mass at 8:30am and 10:30am.

Monday, March 9, 2026: No Morning Mass. Feast day of St. Frances of Rome.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Mary’s Helpers Pantry from 10am to 12 noon

Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Religious Ed Class in the Library of the Parish Center at 6:00pm

Wednesday, March 11, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Thursday, March 12, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Thursday, March 12, 2026: Holy Hour dedicated to the Sacred Heart at 6:00pm

Friday, March 13, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Friday, March 13, 2026: Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction at 7:00pm

Saturday, March 14, 2026: Vigil Mass for the 4th Sunday in Lent (Laetare Sunday).

Sunday, March 15, 2026: Morning Mass at 8:30am and 10:30am (Laetare Sunday-4th Sunday of Lent.

Monday, March 16, 2026: No Morning Mass

Tuesday, March 17, 2026: Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Tuesday, March 17, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am following by a Tea Party in the Parish Center in celebration of St. Patrick’s Feast Day.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026: Mary’s Helpers Pantry from 10am to 12 noon

Tuesday, March 17, 2026: Religious Ed Class in the Library of the Parish Center at 6:00pm

Wednesday, March 18, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Thursday, March 19, 2026: Feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Thursday, March 19, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Friday, March 20, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Friday, March 20, 2026: Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction at 7:00pm

Saturday, March 21, 2026: Vigil Mass at 4:00pm-5th Sunday of Lent

Sunday, March 22, 2026: Morning Mass at 8:30am and 10:30am.

Monday, March 23, 2026: No Morning Mass

Tuesday, March 24, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Tuesday, March 24, 2026: Mary’s Helpers Pantry 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Tuesday, March 24, 2026: Religious Ed Class in Library of Parish Center at 6:15pm

Wednesday, March 25, 2026: The Annunciation of the Lord. Morning Mass at 7:00am

Thursday, March 26, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Friday, March 27, 2026: Morning Mass at 7:00am

Saturday, March 28, 2026: Vigil Mass at 4:00pm for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Palms will be distributed.

Sunday: March 29, 2026: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Palms will be distributed at all Masses. Mass at 8:30am and 10:30am

Sunday, March 29, 2026: Spaghetti On Second Dinner from 11:30am to 2:00pm.

Monday, March 30, 2026: Monday of Holy Week. No Mass today.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026: Tuesday of Holy Week. Morning Mass at 7:00am

Tuesday, March 31, 2026: Mary’s Helpers Pantry from 10am to 12 noon

Tuesday, March 31, 2026: Religious Ed Class in the Library of the Parish Center at 6:00pm


Let Us Prayerfully Remember

Let Us Prayerfully Remember Those Who Have Died Since

All Souls Day:  November 2, 2025

Eternal Rest Grant unto them, O Lord…and Let Perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.  Amen.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

Trudy L. Jones, Vilma L. Belsak, Helen Lescanec, Valeria Gorecki, Nancy Spizzirri, Eileen Sceski, Jack R. Brommer, Sr., Bonnie L. Doyle, Andrew Rafaj, Raymond Lopatic, Susan (Kamenar) LaVia.

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