Since my arrival last June in the East End, I have been doing a lot of driving in my Jeep. Many times while driving through Squirrel Hill at the corner of Forbes and Murray Avenue, I have noticed several people stand on the street corner holding up “Hungry and Homeless” cardboard signs. Near Bakery Square where the huge Google Headquarters stands and amidst large construction cranes as new apartment buildings and condos continue to go up in East Liberty, a large number of people stand along Penn Avenue holding up “Hungry and Homeless” cardboard signs. Crossing Penn Avenue from Point Breeze into Homewood-Brushton, it doesn’t take too long to see the change in the economic status of the houses just a few blocks apart. I see a great need for ministry in this particular part of the City of Pittsburgh.
 
Last Thursday while walking around Gateway Center visiting the Arts Festival then going to the Farmers Market in Market Square, there were more homeless people sitting along the corner of Stanwix Street. Though we will never be able to fix everyone’s problems and there will always be hunger and homelessness in our world, what we say and do each day can add up to make a difference.
 
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, traditionally known as “Corpus Christi.” In the first reading from the Book of Genesis, we read how Melchizedek blesses Abram in the name of God most high. Bread and wine are offered up. In today’s Gospel from Luke, we read the famous multiplication of loaves and fishes. This miracle is found in all four gospels. Jesus calls the Eucharist the source and the summit of our faith. We celebrate Christ’s enduring presence with us in the mystery of the Eucharist.
 
When we celebrate the Eucharist today, we enter the same covenant. As disciples, we must do what Jesus wants us to do: to proclaim the gospel, help others, feed the poor and help the homeless, and treat others the way we would like to be treated. “Feed the sheep” by our words and actions. It is not enough to just go through the Eucharistic ritual, we must live our lives in the way that Jesus did. Let us be fed and nourished and go out and share our food to others in need.
 
Parish Improvements
 
Construction has begun on our St. Bede School STREAM LAB.

Welte Roofing has begun repairs to the St. Bede Rectory Roof. Funds from Our Campaign for the Church Alive are making this project possible.
 
A new hot water tank was purchased and installed at St. James Church.
 
A new safety lock has been installed on the door facing the parking lot and school leading to the St. James Chapel, Thank you to two Anonymous Donors for making this safety issue a possibility.   
 
Welcome Home A special welcome to: Brian Hammar, Joseph, Amy, and Anna Morales, and Joseph Pane, who recently registered at CCEEP.
 
Congratulations Four men will be ordained to the Priesthood next weekend for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Let us pray for Brendan Dawson, Tim Deely, David Egan and Mingwei Li as they begin their ministry. Pray for Vocations!
 
Congratulations to Fr. David Taylor, who is being honored this weekend at the 25 ^th Anniversary Gala Celebration for the Community Empowerment Association, which is an association to restore reclaim and transform distressed communities through strategic planning, collaboration, advocacy, education, and training.
 
Are You Registered? If you attend CCEEP on a regular basis and are not officially registered, you are most welcomed here! Please complete a registration form by calling one of our three parish offices. It is very important to be registered especially to obtain a Sponsor Letter to be a Godparent or Confirmation Sponsor.  We are unable to give out Sponsor Letters (Letters of Recommendation) if a person is not active or officially registered at CCEEP.
 
Please note that you are welcomed to attend any one of our six weekend Masses and you can drop your parish envelope or check in the collection basket at any of the three campuses. To ensure proper “credit” to your giving, please use your envelopes or sign up for the convenient Online Giving program. Check our CCEEP Website for more information.
 
Something to Think About…