The Pittsburgh Oratory

Want to help change someone’s life? Sponsor a student to FOCUS National Conference!

As some of you may know, a team of five Catholic missionaries from FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, work full-time here at the University of Pittsburgh,  Chatham University, and Carnegie Mellon University, in the hope of transforming our culture to Christ, one student at a time.

In addition to leading bible studies on campus and providing one-on-one mentoring opportunities, another important way that we reach out to students is by inviting them to join us for the 2010 National FOCUS Conference that will take place in Orlando, Florida December 30, 2009 to January 3, 2010.  Close to 5,000 students from across the United States will gather to celebrate their Catholic faith, likely including a bus full of students right here from Pittsburgh!  The conference includes some of the top Catholic speakers of our time, daily Mass, great music and entertainment, and plenty of opportunities to receive the Sacraments and spend time with our Lord in adoration.

To attend the conference, each student must pay $350 to cover registration and transportation.  We ask you to please prayerfully consider sponsoring a student to attend by funding the cost of the trip.  There is no minimum or maximum amount for donations!  In years past, FOCUS conference has played a pivotal role in the conversion of the souls of hundreds of college students, connecting them with a Catholic community and most importantly with the person of Jesus Christ. Financially supporting our National Conference would be an excellent opportunity for you to join us in our missionary efforts as it will enable more students from Pittsburgh to attend.  If you are interested in sponsoring a student, checks can be written out to FOCUS and either placed in the offertory basket, given to a priest or at the front desk in an envelope, or given to the FOCUS missionaries here at the Oratory.  If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Ashton Mallon (amallon@focusonline.org) or Ruth Kalscheur (rkalscheur@focusonline.org).  Thank you and God bless!

October 28, 2009 from 7:00 PM to 8:45 PM
Location: Student Center Conference Room

Want to understand the “nature” in natural family planning? Beyond just the Catholic way of planning a family, science and medicine are forging a path to understand the gift of fertility, the meaning of love and communion inscribed in the marital act, and its “rules of engagement” present in all persons and between all couples.

The Creighton Model FertilityCare program of NFP offers a scientifically valid approach to human fertility in both its evaluations and prescriptions. It is able to boast significantly greater success than artificial methods in both postponing as well as achieving pregnancy, because it regards natural fertility as an integral part of the married relationship, not an obstacle to be overcome or replaced.

This talk is an introductory session to a larger program of fertility training especially suited to women and couples interested in more fully understanding the woman’s reproductive health; it is also aimed at providing young people a greater understanding of the meaning inscribed in the human body, and as such, an appreciation of the gift of sex and sexuality. The Creighton Method is an allied health service with scientific foundations.

Please reserve a place by contacting the Newman Center: campusministry@pittsburghoratory.org

All are welcome.

Presenter: Karen Guentner, FCPI, is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, and currently an intern in the Creighton Model FertilityCare System Practitioner Program.

Register online at

www.pittsburghoratory.org/apostolate/adoration

The following hours still need a scheduled adorer.

PLEASE SIGN UP TODAY!

Sunday  3:00am – 12:00 noon

Tuesday 3:00pm

Wednesday 2:00am

Thursday – 12:00 noon

Saturday – 1:00pm 2:00pm

As many in the Church today mark the passing of the saintly priest, Cardinal Newman, we provide the Cardinal’s appreciation of the work of another saintly priest, his own patron, St. Philip Neri.  St. Philip, who has been known for centuries in Italy as the patron of secular priests, provides a unique witness of the “cheerful giver.”  To read online both of Newman’s sermons, please follow the links to the first and second at Newman Reader.  To print in booklet form, please download the linked pdf files here.
Newman’s First Sermon on the Mission of St Philip Neri – Booklet Form
Newman’s Second Sermon on the Mission of St. Philip Neri – Booklet Form

Newman to become Blessed

The Pittsburgh Oratory rejoices with all of St. Philip’s Oratories around the world – especially those of Birmingham, London, and Oxford – and with all those who have prayed, longed, and waited, at the announcement today from the Holy See, that the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman, by approval of Pope Benedict XVI, will be proclaimed “Blessed” at a date to be announced.

Please continue to pray for a fitting and beautiful conclusion to this process, for the Cardinal’s future canonization, and for the continued conversion of hearts through his intercession.