Dear Friends,

 OUR BENEFACTORS:  “Let us pray for our Benefactors.”  How many times have I heard that since I entered the Passionist Prep Seminary in 1958. The Superior, the Rector daily reminding the community to pray for our benefactors. A benefactor is a person who does us good, who makes things well. The word comes from two Latin words: bene and facere. Bene means well and facere means to make. We have so many people who make things well for us by their generosity and help, our ‘benefactors.’ From the time I came to Pittsburgh, I have been overwhelmed by the constant generosity of so many benefactors. Our beautiful church was totally renovated in the past seven years. We had a Capital Campaign, initiated with the initial generosity of Jack Mascaro and then so many others. We have the Food Bank every Friday caring for over 50 families weekly. This is because of people like you, our benefactors who help us so generously. I just want to let all of you, who have helped us by your tremendous generosity, know we are grateful and pray for you daily. We, Passionists, exist on this hill in Pittsburgh because of the generosity of our benefactors. I have experienced it over and over. The total renovation of the church, the 80 retreat rooms that have had bathrooms attached, the resurfacing of our parking lots, the garden renovations.  In the past year, a man came in and wrote a check covering the remaining debt I had to pay off for the multi-million-dollar renovations we did on the church. When I was anxious because our annual insurance bill jumped by $18,000 and hadn’t those funds, a woman asked why I looked concerned. I told her and she wrote a check to cover everything! These things happened. “Let us pray for our benefactors.” Two weeks ago, we had the front door area and office re-painted, re-tiled, re-carpeted etc. I had paid for some of the ceiling tiles and some carpeting. When I asked for a bill for the two weeks labor etc. I was told: “Father, I saw all the good going on here and the people coming to confession.  Consider the front office renovation my gift to you. Thank you.” I told the young man. “We pray for our benefactors. Thank you.”  Lastly, there were a number of times when funds got short or bills were more than expected. I would think. I know what God will do for us. Bingo! We were notified that we received a bequest in a will. Without fail that happened. This place is blessed by God and precious to him. May we always be grateful to God for the benefactors he has given us. Let us remember to pray for our benefactors.

In Christ, Fr. Justin Kerber, C.P., Rector