Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! Thank you for joining us this past month as we prayerfully entrusted our nation to the Lord. We are truly blessed to live in a land that protects our freedoms, especially the freedom of religion.

Yet, we know there is much work to do to bring about peace and prosperity for all. Just as we are united in the faith to manifest Christ to the world, we must find unity in our mission as a nation. We do not all have the same gifts or talents, but we are called to see one another as "another self"—as members of the same body. Our prayers and service to one another will help our community and nation grow. May we draw strength from our baptism, empowered to be a shining light of faith, hope, and love to all.

A Piece of Saint Malachy History: As we prepare for the removal of the lockers in the old Saint Malachy School over the coming months, we want to offer you an opportunity to claim a piece of the school's legacy. While we explored donating these to other schools, code requirements unfortunately made that impossible.

We now extend an invitation to you: if you would like a nostalgic memory of your childhood, or if you simply need a sturdy set of four "old school" lockers for your home or workshop, we welcome you to claim a set. Please contact the Parish Office if you are interested, and we will make arrangements for you to pick up your set(s). We would be happy to see these lockers find new life in your homes.

Exciting opportunities: Please note well, and tell all your friends and family, about the upcoming opportunities that you will find in this week's bulletin. Note well the new opportunities for our high school and college students!

• High School Mass and Mochas (begins July 10)
• College Send Off (August 2)
• Catholic Kennywood Day (July 14)
• Parish Picnic (August 9)

Next Third Place Saturday Service Project (July 18): At this month's Third Place Saturday, our service project will be moving items from the old school into a dumpster or a staging area for removal. I'm sure it will be a hot day, so this work might end up being a good substitute workout for your gym day. The service project will begin at about 9:45 AM and continue until finished. Remember, there is a continental breakfast and fellowship in the Youth Ministry Center immediately following the morning Mass. Look for more information in next week's bulletin.

A Special Thank You to Our VBS Team! This past week was filled with wonderful activity for our parish, but the highlight was undoubtedly our Vacation Bible School. Putting together a program like this requires an incredible amount of organization and dedication from our parish staff and volunteers. While VBS is a joy for the children who attend, it is equally wonderful for me to see our community come together to share the love and joy of our faith. I truly wish I could thank each and every one of you personally! Thank you to everyone who made this year a success—may God bless you for this good work. Please be sure to check out the photos on page7 to see the fun and love that everyone shared!

A Note on Joachim's Path of Formation: I can now share the wonderful news concerning Joachim's path towards the priesthood: on July 19, at our 10:00 AM Mass, Joachim will receive the Rite of Candidacy, celebrated by Bishop Eckman. This Rite is a significant milestone in a seminarian's journey toward the priesthood. It serves as the Church's formal, public recognition of a man's commitment to prepare for the Sacrament of Holy Orders, signifying that the Church has observed his progress and affirms the signs of his priestly vocation.

Joachim's Pastoral Year with us will conclude on August 10, as he prepares to begin his studies at Saint Vincent Seminary this fall. In the coming year, he will balance responsibilities at Saint Vincent, his home parish (Blessed Trinity), and will occasionally return to our parish. While we will certainly miss seeing him, we look forward to continuing our prayers and support for him in this next chapter.

Please join us following the July 19 Mass for a light reception; it will be a wonderful opportunity to congratulate Joachim and wish him well as he takes this important step in discerning God's call.