Pittsburgh Area Catholic Leaders Hail Selection of Pope Francis

Pittsburgh area Catholic leaders reacted to the election of Pope Francis and were especially fixated on his 'New World' origins and the meaning behind the name he chose. Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was selected as the new pope Wednesday.

Pittsburgh area Catholic leaders reacted to the election of Pope Francis and were especially fixated on his 'New World' origins and the meaning behind the name he chose. Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was selected the new pope Wednesday and greeted the thousands who gathered at the Vatican. Closer to home, Catholic leaders here said they are excited about the selection. "Like most Catholics I was filled with great excitement when the white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. And although I didn't know all that much about Cardinal Bergoglio, his appearance and remarks from the balcony were both quite impressive. Further, the fact that he is a member of the Jesuit religious order founded by Saint Ignatius, a saint to whom I'm…

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Combing Through Craigslist: Unique Stuff for Sale in the Baldwin-Whitehall Area

Where else but Craigslist would you find ...

We decided to comb Craigslist to find some of the more unique items for sale in the Baldwin-Whitehall area. Take a look and see if you agree. NEW hands-free breast pump bra - $15 (Whitehall) "New in package. Simple Wishe Hands-Free Breast Pump Bra. Adjustable sizing, XS to Medium." Octagon Poker Table w/ Chairs - $400 (Whitehall) "For Sale is a nice formal octagon Poker table, complete with 4 chairs that have wheels. The Poker table is taking too much room in my gameroom and I never get to use it, so hopefully someone else can benefit. The table and chairs are made of wood and the green felt has a couple small stains, but in really good condition. The price is negotiable, so let me know what you want to pay." 1957 Kodak Retina iiic 35 mm…

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cc

11:50 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013

There are many fans of NASCAR in the Pittsburgh Area. The Daytona 500 is the Super Bowl of racing and less than 2 weeks away.   more ›

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Jan Scheuermann Speaks to Saint Elizabeth Students

The quadriplegic writer was asked tough questions about God and family.

Jan Scheuermann, the Whitehall Borough resident who is making worldwide news as part of a groundbreaking UPMC and University of Pittsburgh brain-computer interface study, has gone back to her roots—all the way back to her former elementary school in south Baldwin Borough. On Friday morning, Scheuermann celebrated Mass alongside students from Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic School before wheeling in front of the Saint Elizabeth Church altar to talk about her disease, her faith and the crazy turn that her life has taken into the very public eye. Scheuermann, 53, grew up on Brentview Drive—just two blocks from the church/school—and finished her time at Saint E's as a 1977 graduate of the now-defunct Saint Elizabeth High School. A …

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B-W Trivia: What Was the Name of This Place?

We will reveal the answer on Monday.

The Baldwin-Whitehall Patch has partnered with the Baldwin Historical Society to bring you a weekly trivia question that delves into our area's colorful past. Pat Lombardi and Patty Woehler, co-presidents of the society, generously write the questions and provide the pictures. Here is this week's question: This building was a former schoolhouse—a gaunt, boxlike structure erected by a community of Roman Catholic nuns to teach the children of coal miners. It was left vacant when the local public schools were established. It was then taken over by an organization to be used as a free home for convalescent men and boys. This was in the early 1900s. The building was located on Willett Road. And while the organization is still in existence, it …

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Robert Edward Healy, III

4:26 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013

Stephanie, you got it! Nicely done. A great question from Pat this week.   more ›

Spencer United Methodist Church Celebrates 175 Years

'Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors.'

Located just over the northwestern border of Baldwin Borough, the Spencer United Methodist Church has been serving area residents for a memorable 175 years. And to celebrate that anniversary, the church will host a special two-hour worship session on Sunday, Sept. 16, starting at 10 a.m. at its location on Spencer Avenue in Pittsburgh's Carrick neighborhood. The worship will include guest speakers and will be followed by an open house featuring finger foods, a photo display and activites for children. There is no cost. According to the Spencer Church's website, the area's Spencer family began to host groups of people in its home in the early 1800s to worship and to study the Bible. The family owned a large area of property from …

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Letters to the Editor

Mocking Christians Not Funny

Baldwin United Methodist pastor writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Rev. Dr. Bruce E. Bryce isn't laughing. Bryce, the congregational care pastor at the Baldwin Community United Methodist Church in Whitehall Borough, wrote an April 24 letter to the editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in which he asks for respect for Christians when it comes to ridicule. "When a Jew or Muslim is degraded, offended or ridiculed, it's called anti-Semitism," Bryce writes. "When the public display of the Ten Commandments is challenged, it's called civil liberty. When a Christian is humiliated, satirized or dishonored, it's called comedy." Bryce has wondered if the "Golden Rule" no longer applies. "Maybe it only depends on if it gets a laugh or not," he writes. Read Bryce's full letter here. Thoughts? Share them in the …

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Baldwin-Whitehall 2012 Fish Fry Guide

What's your favorite: Saint Albert's, St. Gabe's, Option Fire or New Wine Harvest? Or did we miss one?

Here, fishy fishy. Yes, it's that time again. Even if you're not celebrating Lent, you can enjoy these great seafood meals from around Baldwin-Whitehall. (PDF menus, if available, are in the media gallery to the right.) Note: This list is for nonprofit groups only.   Saint Albert's Saint Albert the Great Catholic Parish, off of Churchview Avenue in north Baldwin Borough, debuts its 2012 Fish Fry from 3 to 7 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22. The fry will then run every Friday through the Lenten season, which culminates on Easter Sunday, April 8. Good Friday, April 6, is the final day for the fry. Saint Albert's has fried and baked Icelandic cod, including fried cod sandwiches, available for $6 each, or $9 each if ordered with a full dinner, …

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Robert Edward Healy, III

10:26 am on Friday, April 6, 2012

Reminder: No St. Gabe's fry tonight, but Saint Albert's, Option Fire and New Wine Harvest are still on!   more ›

B-W Fish Fries: And the Winner Is ...

See who earned our latest 'Best of' award.

The readers have spoken, and the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch is pleased to recognize St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Parish in Whitehall Borough with a "Best of" award for Lenten fish fries. Other places in Baldwin-Whitehall considered for the honor were Saint Albert the Great Catholic Parish, Option Independent Fire Company and New Wine Harvest Church/Café Fusion, all in Baldwin Borough. We used a poll question—What's the best fish fry in Baldwin-Whitehall?—to determine the winner of this week's contest, and St. Gabriel's earned 52 percent of the vote, followed by New Wine Harvest (18 percent), Saint Albert's (16) and Option Fire Hall (13). Congrats to St. Gabe's! Last week's winner of a "Best of" burger award went to Thee Olde Place Inn …

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Robert Edward Healy, III

4:09 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012

For hours and menus tonight, visit http://patch.com/A-qYbt.   more ›

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua Dies at 88

Cardinal Bevilacqua, who was bishop of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese from 1983-87, died in his sleep on Tuesday night.

The Associated Press is reporting that Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua died in his sleep on Tuesday night at the age of 88. The retired head of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was an uncharged central figure in a child sex-abuse case that involves the alleged shuffling of predator priests to unwitting parishes, the AP reports. Bevilacqua died days after lawyers battled over his competence to testify at an upcoming trial at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary—in the Philadelphia suburb of Wynnewood—after battling dementia and an undisclosed form of cancer, an archdiocese spokeswoman told the AP. Bevilacqua had been the spiritual leader of the 1.5 million-member Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1988 until his retirement in 2003. The Pittsburgh Post-…

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