Rev. Kevin G. PoeckingPastor · Holy Family Parish - St. Irenaeus Church

Pastoral Message and Parish Updates

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

These day of intense heat in our area and upcoming volunteer work at the festival resonate with the Gospel this weekend. "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." There are many times when we are burdened from our labors. Students are burdened throughout the year with growing their minds from studies, expanding their skills and work as young people, hardworking employees spend longsuffering moments attending to their jobs and also managing their families and homes, and retirees battle their medical situations while all of us strive to serve the Lord in the various ways we volunteer for the Church and Her efforts. We come to God in all these challenges and burdens, not only because we love God, but because we know we can only find the deeper rest that only God can provide. May God's rest be with us in all our endeavors as we strive in our labors for the Lord.

There are two important updates to share this weekend. First, we are excited for the next annual parish festival this week. Chris Neff, as one among the festival leadership team, and many other volunteers are happy to continue this community event. Chris shares the festival announcement this weekend:

Our 2026 Holy Family Festival is just about ready to take off! Holy Family's Festival is the premier festival in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh! It includes delicious foods, snacks and refreshments, raffles, games, bingo, ministry booth, flea market, live entertainment and all new for 2026 amusement mechanical rides being provided by Reinhart Amusements of Pittsburgh. The festival is fun for folks of all ages. All our volunteers work very hard to make this a wonderful and safe community social event in order to bring our friends and families together as well as to help our parish and is all based around our Catholic faith. This year's festival holds special meaning because it will be Father Kevin's last festival as the Pastor of Holy Family and Father Dan's first festival. It is never too late to volunteer, and we will still need volunteers to help us make this a successful event once again. If you need help to sign up to volunteer please call the parish office at 412 793 4511. We are all looking forward to seeing you all and a great festival, please plan to attend and/or volunteer. -Chris Neff

Also, the parish recently concluded another Holy Family Pilgrimage, this time to Italy and Paris. The pilgrims started in Rome and went to Assisi, Florence, Venice, and Paris,

prayerfully celebrating Mass each day in holy sites. Faith Sisk organized the team of pilgrims and shares a short update, with more information and photos on page 12.

*The heat dome descended upon Europe as the Holy Family pilgrims arrived, but the intense heat did not deter their hopeful excitement or enthusiasm. They plowed through the Coliseum,

ascended the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) on their knees, waited 2 1/2 hours to see Pope Leo greet the crowds for the papal audience, and were awed by Michelangelo's La Pieta, the statue of Mary holding Jesus' body after he was crucified. The pilgrims visited Assisi, the Basilica of St. Francis, and prayed at the tomb of one of the newest and youngest saints, Saint Carlo Acutis. In Florence, the pilgrims saw Il Duomo and the Holy Doors, shopped on the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) and then cooled off on a gondola ride through the canals of Venice. Paris greeted the pilgrims with 100 degree temperatures, but The Blessed Mother filled their hearts with joy as she interceded to allow Father Kevin to concelebrate the Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral. A dinner cruise on the River Seine afforded a nighttime view of Paris and the Hop On/ Hop Off bus let them see the sites by day. All who came were blessed in this experience. Thanks for all the parish prayers for safe travels for all pilgrims. -Faith Sisk*

In Christ's love,

Father Kevin