The Pastoral Staff, as the leaders to the parish, have come up with a plan to march forward in Christ together.  As we thought and prayed through the Parish priorities, the following five rose to top: hospitality, Liturgy, formation, Works of Mercy, and sustainment.  Each of these priorities are not just for a few people to do, they are what our pastoral staff believes God is asking all of us to walk in this year as a parish.

The Pastoral Staff has established a five-pillar framework to guide our parish’s mission.  Below you’ll find a clear purpose, strategic priorities, and a proposal for each pillar.  Together, these pillars form a cohesive roadmap for a parish that is spiritually grounded, outward‑facing, and sustainable to ensure long-term vitality.
 
Purpose for Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish

Grounded by the example of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish is striving to nurture and build our community, so that every parishioner can know, love, and serve God, encouraging others to do the same.

Mission for Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish
Grounded by the example of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish is striving to nurture and build our community, so that every parishioner can know, love, and serve God, encouraging others to do the same.

Vision for Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish

To joyfully build bridges of hope through the Catholic Faith, with prayer and sacraments, to bring all souls to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.

Values of Joy Love Catholic

Priorities for our parish
• Improve parish communication.
• Develop and implement additional Catholic Faith formation opportunities for all ages, so people can become better disciples of Christ.
• Welcome all to share their time, talent, and treasure in current and new volunteer opportunities.

        The virtue of hospitality is characterized by kindness and welcome, particularly to those who are strangers. Since the stranger, by nature, has no particular claim on our affections, the love we extend to him is true Christian love — love purely for the sake of the one “who loved us first.” (1 John 4:19)

        To welcome the stranger is a daily work of discipleship. For a parish to really thrive and grow the faith of its followers, it needs to be a welcoming environment. If we are truly to be Jesus in the world, it necessitates that we foster a sense of solidarity with one another.  After all, no man is an island.

 Our Lord teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Hospitality is not just polite, it involves    caring for each other as families do, and since we are a parish family, our lives must make positive   impacts on the lives around us. Our mission is to create a benevolent Catholic culture that welcomes all persons. It is our goal to strengthen our hospitality to ensure every person - new or old, young or elderly - feels like, “You belong. God is here. And, it is good that you are here too!”

 We need to be proactive in bringing about a spirit of welcome where all feel the warmth of Christ radiating from our hearts and spiritual home - our parish. To achieve a “Spirit of Welcoming,” our parish will embark on the following:

• Be the face of Jesus to all who enter our doors because Jesus dwells in them too. We want to be a place of unity, love and acceptance of all the children of God.
• Our parish will form a Hospitality Committee who will be involved in providing the most welcoming environment for every new member who registers with our parish.
• We will encourage our parish family to live with purposeful intention by continuing to engage these new parishioners fully with our various ministries and opportunities offered at our parish.
• Create an atmosphere of warmth and friendliness within our ministries and small groups where new volunteers and members are valued for their presence. 
• We will continue with outreach efforts to re-engage fallen away Catholics and those who are initially interested in what the Catholic Church stands for. 

         Going to Mass is one of the most important things we'll do during our lifetime. The Mass is the highest form of prayer where we join the heavenly hosts in worship of our creator. The Mass is the point where “heaven and earth kiss,” the human and divine meet, and is a small foretaste of eternity to come. It seems to follow, then, that since the Mass is absolutely central to our Catholic faith, we as worshippers should pour our all into each mass.

        In order to do that, we have to come to Mass with intention, purpose, and preparation. We have to choose to be actively engaged, as is our right and duty. Sacrosanctum Concilium, a constitution from Vatican II, beautifully outlines this by stating: “Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people…is their right and duty by reason of their baptism.” To that end, the enlivened worship of the parish people is the central goal of the liturgy category.

 In order to elevate the beauty of our liturgies, our liturgical ministers who assist at Mass will receive ongoing training and formation in their specific roles in order to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of what it means to serve at Mass, as well as practical training in their roles. With that formation, they can fully and consciously engage in their ministry, which in turn assists the assembly to worship better.

 Each worshipper may find that they connect to the Mass in a more active way based on the liturgical style of the Mass being offered, so we will continue to offer that liturgical variety in order to assist our parishioners in finding how they can worship best.

• For every parishioner and liturgical minister to be engaged in full, active, and conscious participation at Mass.
• To ensure each liturgy reflects the sacred tradition and high liturgical standards of the Church by providing catechetical and practical training for all liturgical ministers.
• Continue to offer a range of liturgical variety at our Masses, including traditional, contemporary, quiet, and outdoor masses.

        The Formation Team includes Father Levi Hartle, our Pastor; Kathy Miller, Director of Religious Education; Mark Littlefield, Seminarian; Philip Pierangeli, Director of Youth and Social Minister; and  Diane Kooser, Human Formation Coordinator.

        Our goal is to cultivate lifelong discipleship by offering rich, accessible, and engaging opportunities for learning, spiritual growth, and sacramental preparation. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He did not say, “Go make parishioners.” He said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20) Challenged by that Great Commission, our goal is to form disciples.

1) Strengthening Catechesis Across All Age Groups

     St. Paul reminds us that Christ gives teachers “to equip the holy ones… so that we may no longer be infants” (Ephesians 4:11–14). We don’t “graduate” from learning and growing in our faith. Spiritual   development occurs over all the seasons and stages of life and provides richness and depth to our   relationship with the Lord and each other.

     Our team is committed to continued catechesis for children, teens, young adults, and adults. We recently extended our Faith Formation program for our young people to include Family Catechesis and Lectio Divina. Last year, we expanded our catechesis for adults with Formation Thursdays. Our Formation Thursday programming included a “Life in the Spirit” Seminar, a four-part series on prayer, a “Stump the Seminarian” night with Mark, & a teaching on the Mass. We also  hosted a Pentecost Retreat.

    We began this year with a “Be Healed” faith-sharing series, Eucharistic Adoration 101, and our Lenten Mission talks on the Mass. We are planning another “Life in the Spirit” Seminar and an Unbound faith-sharing group. Our OCIA program continues to thrive and support adults on their path to the Sacraments of Initiation. Whether someone is preparing for First     Communion, Confirmation, marriage, or simply seeking to grow deeper in prayer and understanding of the Church and her teachings, we want to  provide opportunities that are substantial and life-giving. If you have ideas about programming you’d like to see, please share them with our team.

 2) Integrating Formation into the Rhythms of Parish Life

     St. Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another.” (Colossians 3:16)  While formation happens in Bible studies, sacramental preparation, youth ministry, and small groups, it also happens in our homes, personal and professional relationships, and informal conversations. Our goal is to weave formation into every aspect of our parish life so that learning and growing in faith becomes a natural rhythm rather than a course or event.

3) Building a Unified Curriculum and Shared Language of Faith

     St. Paul urges the Corinthians “that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)  A unified curriculum, grounded in the Gospel and teachings of the Church, helps ensure that, whether you are 8 or 80, you are hearing the same core truths expressed clearly and  consistently in a manner that is relevant to your stage and state in life. A shared faith language increases our ability to communicate with clarity.

     Unity includes inclusivity. We want to reduce barriers for parishioners to access our programming. In addition to the expanded parking in Donora, we began to offer a virtual and in-person hybrid model for people to access our formation programming. We will continue to keep inclusivity and accessibility in mind when scheduling and planning formation events.

4) Fostering Ongoing Discipleship — Not Episodic Faith

     Jesus says, “Remain in me” (John 15:4). If we are to remain in Jesus, we need Him at our center as we journey in faith together. This is ongoing discipleship. It is continual development and learning.

     We want to move from a checklist of Sacraments and obligations to complete to a lifelong journey of conversion. We invite you to take one concrete step this year. Attend one formation event you would not normally attend. Try a new study. Come to an evening of praise and worship. Try our men’s or women’s groups. If you are already involved, invite a friend to join you. If there is a topic, speaker, or format you would like to see offered, please share your ideas with our team. "May the Word of Christ dwell richly in us (Col 3:16), forming us as disciples."

       One of the clearest signs of a healthy parish is how it cares for those who are struggling. As we  continue shaping our parish mission around five core pillars, the Works of Mercy stand at the heart of who we are and who we are called to be. Christ’s command to feed the hungry, visit the sick, comfort the sorrowful, and welcome the stranger is not optional—it is the daily work of discipleship.

     Over the past several years, our parish has witnessed extraordinary growth in our Works of Mercy, especially through our Food Bank ministry. What began as a small, quiet effort has become one of the most impactful outreach ministries in the Mon Valley. Today, our operations serve well over a thousand neighbors each month, offering not only food, but dignity, stability, and hope. Through partnerships with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Catholic Charities, 412 Food Rescue, the Washington Area Humane Society, and Hunters Share the Harvest, our reach now extends to families, seniors, veterans, children, and even beloved pets through our Pet Food Pantry.

     This commitment to dignity has also shaped another beautiful ministry: Dignity Robes. What started as a simple idea—to provide clean, comfortable robes for neighbors undergoing medical treatments, recovering from surgery, or facing housing insecurity—has grown into a quiet but powerful expression of mercy. These robes are offered without fanfare, without questions, and without judgment. They    remind each recipient that they are seen, valued, and worthy of comfort. For many, a robe becomes more than clothing; it becomes a sign of warmth, safety, and the compassion of a parish that refuses to let anyone feel forgotten.

     Our Works of Mercy also extend through a broad Social Ministry outreach that accompanies parishioners who are homebound, living in nursing homes, or facing significant hardship. Volunteers visit, pray with, and support those who cannot be physically present at church, ensuring they remain connected to the life of the parish.
 This ministry also provides practical assistance to our most vulnerable parishioners—those navigating illness, isolation, financial strain, or unexpected crises. In these quiet encounters, the parish becomes a lifeline of companionship, stability, and hope.

      As these ministries grow, so does our  responsibility. We are called to deepen our volunteer base, strengthen our partnerships, and continue building a parish culture where service is woven into the fabric of our     identity. We are also working to integrate the Works of Mercy more intentionally into formation, liturgy, and community life so that every parishioner—children, teens, adults, and families—can find a meaningful way to put mercy into action.

     In the weeks ahead, you’ll see new opportunities to serve, new ways to get involved, and new invitations to live the   Gospel in concrete, practical ways. Thank you for being a parish that cares deeply and acts boldly. Together, we can make mercy a defining mark of our parish life.
 
        Every vibrant parish rests on a foundation that must be cared for with intention. Sustainment is one of the five pillars of our parish mission, and it focuses on the systems, structures, and practices that keep our parish strong, accountable, and able to grow. While much of this work happens behind the scenes, it is essential to the health of every ministry we offer.

     Sustainment includes supporting ministry leaders with clear expectations, building processes that prevent burnout, and ensuring that our operations align with diocesan standards. It is about perseverance—making sure that what we build today can endure tomorrow.

 A key part of this pillar is financial sustainment. Our parish’s ability to serve, teach, welcome, and worship depends on the generosity of parishioners and the responsible stewardship of those resources. Financial sustainment is not simply about “keeping the lights on.” It is about ensuring that:

• Ministries have what they need to flourish
• Outreach efforts can grow to meet real community needs
• Facilities remain safe, accessible, and welcoming
• Staff and volunteers are supported in their work
• Long-term planning is possible, not reactive

     Financial transparency and accountability are central to this effort. As we strengthen this pillar, we will continue to communicate clearly about parish needs, priorities, and progress. Our goal is a parish where every family understands how their support—whether through time, talent, or treasure—directly fuels the mission.
     This is quiet work, but it is holy work. Sustainment allows everything else—formation, liturgy, service, and hospitality—to thrive. Thank you for your continued dedication to our parish and for helping build a community that is not only active and prayerful, but also stable, responsible, and ready for the future.