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Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary the Church reminds us that we are called to eternal life in Christ. This festival calls us to have hope that where Mary has gone we too hope to follow. Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center is a place where we invite you to come to be a part of a community and place that accompanies you in your journey of faith. Please join us next Friday, August 22nd at 7PM for our Jam Session in our Garden. It is a wonderful opportunity to gather for community and fellowship with great music! September offers so many wonderful opportunities to grow in our faith. Click the link in our bio for more details! Thank you for your support and prayers! Please know of our prayers and gratitude for you. 🙏🏻

THANK YOU to all of those who were able to join us or be there in spirit as we celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration and Fr. Michael's 75th Birthday last night! A special THANK YOU to everyone who helped to honor his 75th Birthday and the Feast of Transfiguration by donating to replace the lights with more efficient lighting at the Retreat Center; that aligns with our commitment to care of creation and a Passionist Charism! Fr. Michael has been a light in the lives of so many retreatants here in Pittsburgh and throughout our Province! May God continue to Bless him, in his priesthood and ministry here at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center. 🙏🏻 If you want to make a donation in honor of Fr. Michael, to help our retreat center to run lighting more efficiently please contact us today at the link in our bio!

August is here! We have a great line up this August, kicking off with a three part series Spirit, Body and Mind THIS upcoming Tuesday, August 5th! Hope to see you there! #summertime #summerevents #retreat #pittsburgh #pittsburghevents #spiritbodymind #concert #mentalhealth #augustevents

Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center presents a three part series "Spirit, Body and Mind", Tuesdays, August 5, 12 and 19 from 7:00 pm-9:00 pm. $20/person or $40 for all three. Tuesday, Aug. 5- Music in the Spirit with Dr. Tom Octave. Tuesday, Aug. 12- Praying with your Body: Elevated Prayer with Laudate Fitness in a faith filled experience of movement. Tuesday, Aug. 19- Praying with Scripture with Fr. Michael Greene. Register Today at the link in our Bio! 🎼💪🏼🙏🏻 #retreat #mindbodyspirit #prayer #workout #scripture #pittsburgh #pittsburghevents #peaceful

Every now and again when I’m invited to some family home for meal or a visit, I encounter three scenarios: The family is on good behavior because the priest is in the house; halfway through a meal the conversation lets me know that I’m there to be a referee because of the conduct of him or her (spouse or children); and thirdly, there’s the happy family that just wants to have g guest over. I think that Jesus walked into the second scene. Martha does not wear the martyr’s crown lightly. She lets Jesus and everyone else know that she has to do all the work. Mary should be told to do here part. You know how it ends; Jesus doesn’t take the bait or solve the obvious problem. He simply says that Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken away. This Gospel reminds me of the perspective we have here at St. Paul’s Retreat Center. We want to show people radical hospitality. We’re not only happy that you’ve come to join us for the weekend or the day, but also that you feel at home, relaxed and rested. Also, in a world where experiencing denial, scarcity, fear, and loss, we want to remind people of the abundance of blessings and providence of God. Then, if people take time to reflect on their life and those family and friends that God has given them, their time here could gentleness rather than reaction. They could return to their homes or work with a spirit of gratitude. You see, just as in the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Jesus can melt hearts and lower tempers. So, as we visit, relax, and vacation, choose the better part, not just the bigger piece of the pie. We have a perfect opportunity this summer to relax, reflect and Remember Your Why! Join us NEXT WEEK for Quiet Time with God July 24th-25th... Register at the link in our bio! -Fr. Michael Greene, C.P. #rememberyourwhy #quiettime #reconnect

The spirituality of the Passionists is given new life by reflecting not only upon Scripture, but upon the history of the Church as well. The saints offer us as Catholics a vibrant, concrete example of the Church’s tradition, as they waded in its waters throughout their lives on earth and add to its depths as exemplars of holiness through their heavenly lives. So many excellent, faithful examples are celebrated throughout the month of July, from medieval monastics like St. Benedict to a modern example of faithful marriage in Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin. We invite you to join us in reflecting on this truth and the ways it intersects with the Passionist spirituality of St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center at our July 15th evening event, Saints in the Garden! Register Today at the link in our bio – price includes wine, cheese, and prayerful meditations on the joy to be found in better knowing the communion of saints and continued presence in our spiritual lives. #saints #julyfeastdays #wineandcheese #underthelights #summer #summerfun

"He loves, He hopes, He waits. Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years rather than keep us waiting an instant." -Saint Maria Goretti Honored as one of the first Passionist martyrs. Pray for us! 🙏🏻🤍 #passionists #feastday #saints #catholicchurch #italy #stpaulofthecross

Happy July 4th 🇺🇸 from our Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center family to yours! #independenceday #july4th #america #freedom #brave #godblessamerica

Rummage Sale THIS Saturday! Come enjoy coffee and donuts ☕️🍩 from 8:30am-10:30am or a hotdog bar🌭 from 11am-12pm while discovering vintage and unique items! Also, come explore the gardens and retreat center with guided tours. All proceeds go to supporting the mission and outreach of Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center! See you there! #rummage #rummagesale #antiques #goodfinds #pittsburgh #pittsburghevents #goodfood #treasure

Happy Feast of Corpus Christi! "The feast of the Blessed Sacrament is the feast of love. Oh, what great love! what immense charity!" -St. Paul of the Cross Blessed, Broken, Give Thanks Recently I celebrated my 43rd anniversary as an ordained priest. So, you’ll forgive me if I seem a little awestruck as we celebrate this feast. As baptized Christians we receive the dignity of priest, prophet, and king. From these Biblical titles, we can experience the responsibility of blessing and offering prayer and praise on behalf of God’s people; to speak a word that will rouse them to return to the way of the Lord; and supply and protect those God has entrusted to you. And from our psalm response for today we hear, “You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.”  Whatever your vocation, your call, you are chosen to live, speak, bless, act, and love in Jesus’ name. We do this by being true to our identity as sons, daughters, and servants of God. We also see in our gospel story that the Twelve apostles were challenged to feed the people from what they had. Though it seemed impossible, with Jesus all things are possible. That day the challenge was to trust and obey Jesus. I can just imagine the disciple passing among the people with food and being amazed that they never ran out. They had experienced his other miracles and felt empowered to be giving in the name of God, to the people of God. That’s the reason that I smile as I recall these years of celebrating Mass and the sacraments. It’s what causes me to encourage others to join in. Jesus did say, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” -reflection by Fr. Michael Greene, C.P. #corpuschristi #eucharist #catholicchurch #holy #feastday

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. We celebrate the mystery of God’s love revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the saving waters of baptism, each of us are named and claimed as the beloved of God, and members of the Body of Christ, the Church. As we celebrate the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity we are reminded that the mystery of God’s unconditional love continually is with us, encouraging us, and inviting us to bring God’s love to our world. Happy Fathers’ Day to all Fathers! Prayer for Fathers’ Day God our Father, In your wisdom and love you have created us and called us your own. Bless our fathers, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. In moments of joy, rejoice with them. In times of struggle, give them your courage and perseverance. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor and appreciate them always with a spirit of profound respect. May the example and prayer of St. Joseph inspire them to live their vocation with courage. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏻 #happyfathersday #fathersday #thankyou #rolemodel #protection #family #mostholytrinity #catholicchurch #blessedtrinity #trinitysunday

As we celebrate the great Solemnity of Pentecost, we conclude the Easter season of the liturgical year. The summons of our baptismal call invites us to respond to the lavish gifts the Holy Spirit has given to all of us! In the waters of baptism we are named and claimed as God’s beloved children and invited daily to claim our baptismal agency to go out into the world and by our very lives proclaim the Gospel of Jesus. Sometimes the call may seem overwhelming, but in each moment of our lives we have the opportunity to breath new life into the world through a kind word, being patient with someone, dealing gently with conflict, forgiving another who has hurt us, reaching out to the poor, letting go of a grudge, or seeking to serve through giving our gifts to others. This Pentecost let us pray to be transformed by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration to breathe new life into the world around us. Let us pray for the courage to allow God’s transforming love to change our hearts and move us to live as God’s beloved children here and now and bear the message of the Gospel in all we say and do. #pentecost #happybirthday #holyspirit #stpaulofthecross #catholic #prayer #catholicchurch

Join us Next Wednesday, June 4th from 6:30-9:00 pm for Dining in the Kingdom: Spiritual Reflection & Wine Dinner at the historic St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center! This evening will feature wine parings from Dreadnought Wines and reflection by Father Nick Vaskov. $75 donation per person and includes dinner and wine. We only have a few spots left so register today at the link in our Bio! We hope to see you there! #retreatcenter #stpaulofthecross #pittsburgh #pittsburghspaces #pittsburghhistory #reflection #winedinner #localevents #food #fun

Happy Feast of the Ascension! Promises, promises. It’s been forty days since Jesus appeared in the Upper Room where we were… well, let’s be honest. We were hiding. We didn’t know what to think, say, or do. Frankly, we were scared, but we tried hard not to show it. We didn’t want to upset Mother Mary. But if they killed Jesus, surely they would be coming after us. That was then. That very night, He appeared to us and the first words he said was “Peace”. Thomas wasn’t there that night, but leave it to Jesus to come back and make sure that he was included, even with all his doubts. It wasn’t a regular routine of Him being present, but one that took us all by surprise was when he made us breakfast at the beach. He asked the same question as when he first met Peter, Andrew, James, and John. We’d caught nothing, but he made sure he had enough fish. What was so important was that he wanted us to remember all that He taught us. He was even going to send an Advocate to remind us of our days with him. He was always thoughtful like that. The last time we saw Him was on one of the mounts. It always reminded us that He was no ordinary teacher, no, we came to know Him as the Son of God. He told us that He would go to the Father and that we had to do three things: stay together and await for His Spirit, and we would receive power, then we would go out to tell the world the Good News. Today, on this great feast we invite you to join us, not only in preaching, but also living a life that tells every one that Jesus is alive and wants the best for you. Let us proclaim God’s love, goodness, fidelity, and we live in hope, trusting in Our Lord. In ten days, we’ll hear the story of Pentecost. The story continues and the Church is born! -Reflection by Fr. Michael Greene, C.P. #feastday #ascensionofourlord #catholicchurch #catholicfeastdays #easter

Today, we acknowledge the courage and supreme sacrifices made by all men and women who have given their lives for our country. With sincere gratitude we pray for all the men and women who gave their lives to serve this nation. May their example of sacrifice and courage inspire us! #memorialday #usa #thankyou #courage #honor #sacrifice

Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center is offering a presentation on “Rule of Life” THIS Thursday, May 22nd from 6:30-8:30 pm with Ellen Mady. Come learn about the significance and benefits of a rule of life. Explore scriptural foundations and spiritualities in the history of the Church that offer tools and concepts to discover how God speaks to you and guides you, and the difference that can make in daily life. Cost is $50 per person. All proceeds go to support Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center. We hope to see you there! Register today at the link in our bio! #stpaulofthecross #retreat #inspiration #spirituality #catholic #prayer #pittsburgh #pittsburghhistory

As we celebrate this week the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, we are reminded of our Lady’s message to the children to seek God’s mercy through the Sacraments and prayer.  Each day our Passionists offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the front door of our Monastery. This gift to celebrate God’s great mercy and love invites each of us and all of us to know that God desires to be close to us and to offer us mercy and compassion as we seek God’s forgiveness.  In this month of May, a month that we honor the Blessed Mother, perhaps we can take some extra time to pray the Rosary for peace in our world, for the sick, the poor, those who have fallen away from their faith and for our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.  Let us remember Our Lady’s message at Fatima to pray the Rosary and seek God’s love, mercy, and compassion in the Sacraments of the Church, especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist.  Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us! #fatima #prayforus #peace #blessedmother #immaculateheart #praytherosary #rosary

From the words of our founder St. Paul of the Cross! Our retreat center here in Pittsburgh is just that. A place to unplug from the world of distractions, to unburdened oneself, find beauty, peace and quiet. Book your stay at Saint Paul the Cross Retreat Center today! You can book a night or a few or attend our upcoming event on Thursday, May 22 on the "Rule of Life"! Click the link in our bio to learn more. #retreatcenter #stpaulofthecross #getaway #pittsburgh #pittsburghspaces #pittsburghhistory #history #hiddenjem #unplug #reconnect

Habemus Papam! "God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God."- Pope Leo XIV Join us in praying for Pope Leo XIV! #newpope #whitesmoke #catholicchurch #vatican #pope

The Passionists, a Roman Catholic religious order, trace their origins to Italy in 1720 when St. Paul of the Cross founded the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ in Monte Argrentario, Italy. Their primary mission is to promote devotion to the Passion and suffering of Jesus Christ. They preach the message of Christ's love and suffering to all, particularly the poor and neglected.  Passionists engage in various apostolates, including preaching, parish missions, retreats, and serving in hospitals, orphanages, and other ministries, all rooted in their devotion to the Passion. From their origins in Italy, the Passionists expanded to other parts of the world, establishing congregations in various countries, including the United States, when they came to Pittsburgh in 1852. At the request of Bishop Michael O’Connor of Pittsburgh, Passionists began preaching parish missions and quickly became a place of peace and destination for those in need. St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center, even 173 years later, still offers a unique space set apart from daily demands and concerns for spiritual reflection, prayer, leading to deeper connection to faith, renewed sense of purpose and renewal of heart in relationship with God; through weekend retreats, evenings of recollection, as well as specialized programs and hosted events. Come and see this historical gem of Pittsburgh, the first in all of the United States. Unplug from the world and be renewed! Click the link in our bio to learn more! #passionist #stpaulofthecross #retreat #unplugged #connect #inspiration #history #pittsburgh #pittsburghevents #catholicchurch #neighborhood #communityfirst

Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center is hosting “An Evening of Reflection on Saint Gemma” THIS Wednesday, May 7th from 5:00-8:30 pm with Deacon Ralph Bachner. The evening will begin with Mass at 5:00 pm. Following Mass, there will be a dinner and a special reflection on Saint Gemma. Address: 148 Monastery Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Cost is $55 per person and includes dinner. Register Today at the link in our bio! #retreatcenter #stpaulofthecross #pittsburgh #pittsburghevents #reflection #inspiration #encouragement

Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center is hosting “A Celebration of Mary, Embracing Holiness as Grandmothers, Mothers and Daughters of Today” NEXT Tuesday, May 6th from 7:00-9:00 pm. The evening will begin with Mass at 7:00 pm followed by rosary, reflection, dessert, coffee and fellowship at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center. Address: 148 Monastery Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Cost is $30 per person and includes dessert and coffee. Register Today at the link in our Bio! 🙏🏻💕 #mothersday #grandmothers #honor #motherhood #celebration #mary #stpaulofthecross #pittsburgh #pittsburghevents #catholic #inspirational