Ministry Matters

A new initiative to support vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life has begun! We need creative individuals to join us in brainstorming ideas to promote, pray for, and share these vocations as a Parish Family. April 21 is World Day of Prayer for Vocations – Good Shepherd Sunday. We will be kicking off this initiative that weekend with a traveling chalice to be taken home by a family from each church location. If you are interested in supporting this ministry in any way, please reach out! [email protected] – 724.776.2888 ext.303 or sign up here! Chalice Sign Up 

“Church ministries help develop relationships between God’s people and His Church.”
 

Note: For any group without contact information, or to get the most up-to-date information about our ministries, you can always call our main parish office at 724.776.2888.

Any missing or incorrect information?
Contact: Alena Kucan - [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 107 or
Jennifer Livorse - [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 303.
All groups are open to the whole parish, but groups that have historically met in one location are labeled:

(SF) = St. Ferdinand’s
(SG) = St. Gregory’s
(HR) = Holy Redeemer
(no label) = all 3 locations

Interested in Becoming Catholic or Learning More?

Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)
Jason Gawaldo - [email protected] , 724.776.2888 ext. 302

Ask to meet with a priest or deacon:
Call the office at 724.776.2888


Youth Faith Formation

CCD / Faith Formation for Children (K - 8) 
Options available both for in-person and a home-study program.
Jason Gawaldo - [email protected] , 724.776.2888 ext. 302

St. Gregory School (K - 8)
Nathan Rossman - [email protected], 724-452-9731 ext. 105 

Youth Ministry (7th - 12th grade; incorporating Life Teen)
Michael Assaf - [email protected]
Facebook search: “Divine Grace Parish Youth Ministry”

Adult Faith Formation

Bible Studies
(SF) Tuesday AM - Vera Belfiore - [email protected]
(SF) Tuesday PM - Bobbi Cleland
(SF) Thursday PM - Dan & Daria Kubisiak
(SG) Greg/Julie Kessler - [email protected]
(HR) Barb Mastropietro

Book Circle Discussion (SF)
Sharon Leszcynski - [email protected]

Centering Prayer (SF)
Becky Kretschmann - [email protected]

Ignatian Spirituality (SF)
Theresa Rossi - [email protected]

Living Rosary (a ministry of Knights of Columbus) (SF)
Milt Stauber

Monthly Scripture Study (on Zoom)
A monthly look at the upcoming Sunday readings with a priest or deacon of our parish.
Alena Kucan - [email protected], 724-776-2888 ext. 107

Prayer Group (SF)
Tom & Lorraine Sarver

Bereavement Ministry / ROLO Groups (Remembering Our Loved Ones)
Bonnie Connell - 724.776.2888. Ext. 313

St. Peregrine Prayer (SF)
St. Peregrine is the patron saint of cancer patients. A monthly time of prayer for those dear to you who may be suffering the anguish of cancer or other traumatic illnesses.
Cathy Charnock - [email protected]

Ultreya (SF)
A monthly meeting of a friendship group with spiritual discussion and a witness talk (from the Cursillo movement).
Lisa Fix

Young Adult Ministry (ages 18-39)
Michael Assaf- [email protected]
Facebook search: “Divine Grace Parish Young Adults”

Women Gathered (SF)
Scripture & book studies, faith conversations, strong community building - women of all ages welcome.
Barb McCarthy - [email protected]

Men’s Groups

Catholic Men’s Fellowship (SG)
Saturdays 8-9 am, prayer and discussion.
Robert Darkey - [email protected]

Holy Name Society (HR)
Bob Crawford

Men’s Club (SF)
Last Thursday evening of the month - for men seeking spiritual growth, social interaction, service opportunities, and support of the parish family.
Dave Testa - [email protected]

Knights of Columbus
(SF) Dave Harris - [email protected]
(SG) Don Blahovec - [email protected]
(HR) Hank Glogowski - [email protected]


Women’s Groups

ABC Moms (SF)
(After Baby Comes) is a group of mothers who meet on the first Friday of each month from 9:00 to 11:30 am. We are mothers of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who enjoy a great line-up of educational, spiritual and practical workshops that support our journey of motherhood.
[email protected] 

Christian Mothers (HR)
Jacqulyn Dimeo - 724.758.5888

Middle Moms (SF)
For women who are in that “middle” part of life, when you are parenting your children as they grow and caring for your aging parents.
Susan Dennis - [email protected] 

Ladies of Charity (HR)
Lynda Mancini

St. Ann Guild (SG)
Mary Ann Brill - [email protected]

Women’s Club (SF)
All women 18+ welcome to join this club which provides fellowship in a social and spiritual setting.
Peggy Wahl- [email protected]


Social Groups

Adult Basketball (SG)
Joe Maloney - [email protected]

Adult Softball 
Nick Pecora - 724-272-9121 

Bingo (SG, HR)

Butler Community Dinners (SG)
Sue Heisler

Friends & Fun, 55+ (SF)
Gloria Virostek - [email protected]

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (SF)
Bernadette - [email protected]

Lunch Bunch (SF)
Vera Belfiore - [email protected]

Senior Group (SG)

Social Club (HR)
John Pansera (Stretch)


Liturgical Volunteering Opportunities

Art & Environment (SF)
A group of men and women of the parish who volunteer their time and talent to the liturgical decorating of the worship environment.
Sherrie Maudie - [email protected] 

Altar Serving
Young girls and boys in fourth grade through high school, as well as adults, are eligible to assist the priest at the altar as servers during liturgical celebrations.
Deacon Don Pepe - [email protected] 

Cantor
Jon Zellhart - [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405

Choir
Jon Zellhart - [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405

Contemporary Ensemble Praise Band
Jon Zellhart - [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405

Extraordinary Ministers
Jon Zellhart- [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405

Folk Ensemble
Jon Zellhart - [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405

Funeral Servers
Jon Zellhart- [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405

Funeral Choir
Jon Zellhart - [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405

Ministers of Hospitality 
Jon Zellhart- [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405

Instrumentalists
Jon Zellhart - [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405

Proclaimers of the Word
Jon Zellhart- [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405

Sacristans
Assist the priests in preparing for liturgical events (masses on Sunday, daily mass, funerals, weddings, Eucharistic benediction). A variety of help is needed, from occasionally to weekly.
Jon Zellhart- [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 405


Catechetical / Educational Volunteering Opportunities

Baptism Prep
Deacon Jeff Ludwikowski - [email protected], 724.776.2888 ext. 303

CCD / Faith Formation Teacher 
CCD / Faith Formation Substitute Teacher 
CCD / Faith Formation Aide 
CCD / Faith Formation Hall Monitor 
CCD / Faith Formation Office Help 
Jason Gawaldo - [email protected] , 724.776.2888 ext. 302

Youth Ministry & Life Teen
Michael Assaf- [email protected]

Vacation Bible School
Jason Gawaldo - [email protected] , 724.776.2888 ext. 302


Spiritual Volunteering Opportunities

Hospital Call Ministry (SF)
Bonnie Connell - 724-776-9177 ext. 313

Men’s Retreat
Father Joe Freedy- [email protected]

New Member Welcome (SF)
Bonnie Connell - 724-776-9177 ext. 313

Prison Ministry (SF)
Tom McCarthy - [email protected]

Respect Life (SF)
Bill Slusser

Rosary Leaders (SF)
Lead a decade of the rosary before St. Ferdinand’s daily mass.
Vera Belfiore - [email protected] 

Visitation of the Sick / Extraordinary Ministers to the Sick
divinegracepgh.org/extra-ordinary-minister
Bring the Holy Eucharist to the sick, the homebound, and elderly in nursing homes.
(SF)(SG) (HR) Seminarian Chris Baker [email protected]

Welcome Ministry (HR)
Virginia Ottaviani


Other Volunteering Opportunities

Angel Fund (HR)
Lou Ferrario - 724-758-4411

Appalachia Mission (SG)
An annual service trip to West Virginia. 7th-12th graders, their families, and any interested adults are welcome.
Mindy Pasquale - ​​[email protected] 


Comfort Blanket Ministry (SF)
Judy Shearer - [email protected]

Cranberry Council of Churches (SF)
Walt Scott

Festival Committee
Jamie & Judy Shearer - [email protected]

Funeral Luncheon Committee (HR)
Lou Ferrario - [email protected]

Funeral Reception Committee (SG)

Gardening Angels (SF)
Peggy Wahl - [email protected]

Gleaners Food Bank (SF)


God’s Precious Premies and Threads of Warmth (SF)
Knit & crochet projects for premies, the homeless, chemo patients, the elderly, and wherever there is need.
Jan Shaffer - [email protected]

Knotted with Love (HR)
Knit projects for shut-ins, nursing homes, the seriously ill, the bereaved, and others in need.
Karen Woloszyn

St. Vincent de Paul Society / Food Pantry (SF)
The society was set up to establish a spiritual and personal contact between its members and those who suffer, and to bring to the latter the most effective and brotherly aid possible.

Martha & Joseph Church Cleaning (SF)
(SF) Vera Belfiore - [email protected] 

Missions Outreach / Mexico Mission (SF)
Missions Outreach began sending groups to San Luis, Mexico in 2000.  After many years of building houses and helping at an orphanage, they met Fr. Rudy Valenzuela.  Since that time we have become a "sister parish" to Holy Spirit parish in San Luis, R. C., Sonora, Mexico.  St. Ferdinand's donations have helped build the church as well as a Clinic on the property at 17th and Jasmin Streets. We have also built several mission churches on the outskirts of the town where the poor do not have cars to come to Mass.  In 2019 we helped expand their CCD classrooms.
Fr. Rudy visits us once a year to update us on the progress of the parish.
Wilma Scott - [email protected]

Parish Food Bank / Social Services (HR)
Cathay DeBlaso & Jan Bauer - [email protected]
724-758-3465 ext 230
724-758-3465 ext 201
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Share the Prayer (Rosary Makers) (SF)
Flo & Milt Stauber - [email protected]

Southwest Butler Food Cupboard (SG)
An interdenominational food pantry in Harmony, PA.
Kristen Stumm - [email protected] 

Sunday Breakfast Group (SF)
Mary Funovits - [email protected]