Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord 2014

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
- Luke 2:1-7

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

We wish a special Christmas Greeting to you: the people, religious, and clergy of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh!  We hope that your celebration of the birth of Jesus brings joy to you and your family.  We rejoice and proclaim to all that Christ is Born!

The Holy Family celebrated the first Christmas far from their home in Nazareth in the town of Bethlehem.  Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill the requirements of the census.  Jesus came into the world at a location where they had no family and they relied on the charity of strangers to invite them into a place to stay and to give birth to the Son of God.

Read more: Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord 2014

Vatican decree permits U.S. Eastern Catholic bishops to ordain married men to priesthood

In an open letter to clergy, religious and faithful of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla announced that "Our prayers and efforts to return to the ancient tradition of allowing Byzantine Catholic men to choose between celibate or married priesthood have finally succeeded."

Read the letter from Metropolitan Archbishop William issued to the clergy, religious and faithful of the Archeparchy.

Read the Vatican Decree from Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Chair of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches.

Read the story by Peter Smith in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Read an article by author Laura Ieraci, wife of Subdeacon Andrew Summerson, in the National Catholic Reporter Online. 

Read the USCCB blog by Father Ronald Roberson, CSP. Father Ronald is associate director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the USCCB, and a consultor to the Vatican's Congregation for the Oriental Churches.