As counties move into the yellow phase of Governor Wolf’s reopening plan, parishes and other entities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh will need to be prepared to adopt the new guidelines. Some current shelter restrictions will be lifted, but additional requirements will be in place for public spaces. As such, our reopening process will be gradual, and in continued alignment with public health and safety guidelines, so that we may respect life, and the well-being of all. Due to the nature of the virus, these guidelines are fluid and may change with little advance notice. Our strategic reopening plan includes phases based on comprehensive recommendations from the diocesan COVID-19 Task Force in coordination and consultation with state and regional healthcare leaders. We have, and will continue to be vigilant in doing our part to help ‘flatten the curve’ of the spread of COVID-19.
On Friday, May 22, 2020, we in Beaver County joined the rest of the Diocese in the "yellow phase" of reopening as a result of the corona virus pandemic. The churches in our parish grouping are now unlocked for private prayer, but please abide by the restrictions posted there, including masks, sanitizing, social distancing and using only the portable chairs, not the pews. This is so only the chairs need to be cleaned daily, not all of the pew surfaces.
All visitors MUST follow public health directives including: wearing masks, honoring the 6-feet social distancing requirement, and that congregating is not allowed. Through all of this we have seen in so many ways that Christ is with us always!
Every Friday at the Church of St. John the Baptist the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed from 1:00PM to 2:00PM. To better ensure that the Real Presence of Christ, our Eucharistic Lord, is never left alone during exposition, we encourage parishioners to use the sign-up sheet that can be found in church. The sign up sheet in the church is for 30 minute increments. We would appreciate if two people would sign up for each time slot. May you be greatly blessed for the time you will spend in prayer before Him.
To download a copy of Prayers Before the Blessed Sacrament as published by the Diocese of Pittsburgh, please CLICK HERE.
(Please note that the hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament normally held in church on Wednesdays from 5:00PM to 6:15PM has been temporarily suspended under COVID-19.)
Recitation of the rosary takes place each Wednesday in the Church of St. John the Baptist at 6:00PM.
To access a guide on How to Pray the Rosary as well as a collection of other prayers, please visit the Prayers page.
When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now.
Weekly Adoration Schedule (temporarily suspended under COVID-19)
First Friday of the Month Adoration Schedule (temporarily suspended under COVID-19)
As Catholics, we believe that Christ becomes truly present within the Blessed Sacrament during the consecration at Mass. As promised by Him, His Presence is abiding, not something that vanishes at the conclusion of Mass. In order for the Faithful to honor the Eucharistic Presence of Christ outside of Mass, a priest or deacon removes the sacred host from the tabernacle and places it in the monstrance on the altar for Adoration by the Faithful. During Eucharistic Adoration, we can sit silently in His Presence and open ourselves to His graces which flow from the Eucharist. By worshiping the Eucharistic Jesus, we allow God to transform us and walk away with great peace, being renewed by God himself.
Though the above weekly Adoration Times as public paraliturgical gatherings have been temprorarily suspended due to the COVID-19 situation, you are welcome to make private visits in accordance with the current directives.
“Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the Sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us. The Eucharist is a priceless treasure: By not only celebrating the Eucharist, but also by praying before It outside of Mass, we are enabled to make contact with the very Wellspring of Grace.”
— St. Alphonsus Liguori
Bishop Robert Barron
is the founder of
Word on Fire Catholic Ministries
and Auxiliary Bishop
of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.