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 Return to Trinity Cathedral The diocesan offices are moving from Monroeville to Trinity Cathedral in June.
For most of its history, Trinity Cathedral has been a hub of Pittsburgh's religious, social and political life, the center of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and the seat of our Bishop. However, during the tumultuous decade from 1999 to 2009, the bishop's offices were relocated to the Oliver Building, and the historic suite on the third floor of Cathedral House was left largely vacant except for occasional meetings in the conference room and space for the diocesan archives. Following the schism of 2009, Bishop Johnson set up shop on the fifth floor of the Jonnet Building in Monroeville, from which Bishop Ken Price guided the diocese through the years leading to the election of the next permanent bishop. 
Beginning in late 2012, Bishop McConnell began keeping office hours at Trinity one day a week; by the summer of 2014, he saw that it was time to make the move permanent, a decision he announced to widespread applause at the next diocesan convention.
Since the Golden Triangle is now being revitalized with massive new construction of residential and commercial space, there could be no better moment to re-introduce the full-time presence of our bishop. Finally, the symbolic importance of the cathedral, connecting all the parishes of the diocese together through the Office of the Bishop, is widely recognized among our clergy and people.
 After years of struggle during the split, Trinity is entering a new period of stability under the leadership of Interim Dean Scott Quinn and is ready to recover its historic role as the Episcopal seat.
The move from Monroeville will be completed by the end of June, 2015.
The bishop and staff will once again occupy the third floor, including offices for the canon missioner, archdeacon, treasurer and financial assistant, executive assistant and archivist. The conference facilities will be upgraded and expanded. New lighting, painting, repairs and enhancements of ceilings, walls, and floors will provide a welcoming and attractive space for all visitors, and a safe and pleasant working environment.
 Mindful of our responsibility to be good stewards of all our resources, the trustees of the diocese have hired Jendoco Construction, who have had a long working relationship with our diocese. The diocese has received a generous bequest from Margaret Zieg, a long-time member of Trinity Cathedral, and the trustees have voted to dedicate the major part of it to cover the cost of the renovations.
 Effective June 15, the new address for the diocesan offices will be:
Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
325 Oliver Avenue, Suite 300 Pittsburgh, PA 15222
The phone number, 412-721-0853, will not change.
In this, our 150th year, we look forward to establishing once again our bishop's presence in the heart of the city of Pittsburgh.
--Photos courtesy Andy Muhl
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Diocesan Leadership Day
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I hope that you will be able to attend our next diocesan leadership day, scheduled for Saturday, May 16, from 9:30 a.m. to Noon, at Calvary Episcopal Church in East Liberty. Information will be shared on two important topics at this gathering which will be of interest to all of our parishes.
Last year, legislation was signed into law in Pennsylvania establishing new requirements for those working with children and youth. These new regulations are designed to further protect children and youth from abuse and expand the categories of people considered mandated reporters of child abuse. The Rev. Leslie Reimer will provide an overview of these new Pennsylvania Child Protection laws and what will be necessary for parish compliance. Please see the related story on the diocesan web site for some additional details. All Christian Education Directors should plan to attend to ensure all of our parishes will be in full compliance.
The second topic to be discussed will be the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, scheduled for June 25th through July 3rd in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC) has released a report which presents recommendations for changes in the Church's structures, governance and administration to advance the Five Marks of Mission. This report is available for download on the home page of the General Convention website at www.generalconvention.org. I encourage you to read this document in advance of our conversation about it on May 16. We will also talk about other topics expected to be addressed by the General Convention.
For planning purposes, please register for this event by clicking here. If you have questions, or are unable to register online, please contact Judi Rogers in the diocesan office at 412-721-0853.
Faithfully,
(The Rt. Rev.) Dorsey McConnell
Bishop
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Show Pittsburgh Support for Episcopal Relief & Development's 75th Anniversary Campaign
Prior to attending the General Convention in Salt Lake City in June, the Rev. Bill Geiger from Christ Church, Indiana, will be part of a 12-member team of Episcopalians, called the Steeple Chasers.  They will be running a 194-mile, 36-hour relay race through the Wasatch Mountains along the Idaho-Utah border to help raise $75,000 for ER&D on its anniversary. Fr. Bill has completed 12 marathons, including the original Athens Marathon last November, but this rugged mountain race presents a whole new challenge. Right now, ER&D is responding with initial relief operations focused on meeting urgent basic needs of people who were displaced or otherwise impacted by the earthquake in Nepal. Your gift supporting this effort will help make a difference.
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 Trinity Cathedral Boy Choir Auditions
Know a young man who loves to sing? The Trinity Cathedral Boy Choir is recruiting young singers grades 2-8 to participate for the Fall 2015 semester. Auditions will be held at Trinity Cathedral, 328 Sixth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh, on Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by appointment. The Trinity Cathedral Boy Choir is dedicated to providing singers with high quality vocal instruction in the beautiful tradition of English boy choir schools.
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Youth Corner
Students Use Art to Teach about Child Homelessness
 Along with other high school students on the Homeless Children's Education Fund (HCEF) Ambassadors team, Episcopal teens Omar Abdalla, Laura Kowalski, Shirley Petropoulos, Hannah Schaffer, Gabriella Schunn, and Margaret Whittaker presented Hope Through Creativity: Homeless Awareness through the Arts at the Priory Grand Hall on April 26th.
 Through visual, performance and literary art, the audience of over 100 people learned from this energetic team of volunteers about the challenges of homelessness and its effect on 2,900 children in the county who were identified by their schools as homeless last year.The Ambassadors are sponsored by the HCEF interfaith Cabinet of Congregations and Outreach Team. All students who will be in high school next fall are invited to join this visionary group. For more information contact Brent Hansen at bhansen@episcopalpgh.org or 412-491-9738
PYI on Facebook
Keep tabs on what the youth of the diocese are up to by checking out the Pittsburgh Youth Initiative's newly updated Facebook page. Feel free to explore and share photos (new or old), comments, upcoming events, and maybe even some inspiration. Please only share photos with consent of those in the picture.
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 Chicago Professor Calls Out the 'Culture of White Superiority'
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently featured the "Race and Freedom" program at Heinz History Center, sponsored by the Episcopal Church and the African-American Program at the history center. Click here to read the entire article. |
 Psychological First Aid
The Pennsylvania Emergency Behavioral Health Program presents Psychological First Aid Training.
June 2, 2015, 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Registration at 8 a.m.) at Westmoreland County Community College,
Commonwealth Hall, Room 2303, 145 Pavilion Lane, Youngwood, PA 15697
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed modular approach to help children, adolescents, adults, and families in the immediate aftermath of disaster, terrorism, and other crisis events. It is designed to reduce the initial distress caused by traumatic events and to foster short- and long-term adaptive functioning and coping.
This is part of the requirements needed for certification for a Chaplain during a disaster. It is a one day free training program and for many it will complete the certification requirements.
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Four Chosen as Nominees for 27th Presiding Bishop
Election will take place June 27 during General Convention in Salt Lake City
[Episcopal News Service] The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop May 1 announced the names of the bishops it will nominate this summer to succeed Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.
The four names will be formally submitted to the General Convention during a joint session on June 26, the day prior to the day set for the election by the House of Bishops of the 27th presiding bishop. The nominees are:
The committee's formal announcement, along with biographical information about each nominee, is posted on the General Convention website here.
Read the rest of the story here. |
 Pastoral Notes
The Rev. Richard W. Russell
The Rev. Richard W. Russell, father of the Rev. Daniel Scott Russell, rector of St. Brendan's Episcopal Church in Franklin Park, passed away on Friday, May 8. Russell served 50 years in ministry with the United Methodist Church. His funeral was held on Monday, May 11, at the Clarks Summit United Methodist Church, near Scranton, PA.
Condolences may be sent to: The Rev. Scott Russell, 618 N. Taylor Avenue #1, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
May passed away on April 28 after a long illness. She and her husband, the Rev. Steven McKeown, have been members of the Community of Celebration for the past 37 years.
A memorial service for May McKeown will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, at St. Titus Roman Catholic Church, 952 Franklin Avenue in Aliquippa. The Rt. Rev. Dorsey McConnell will preach.
Condolences may be sent to: The Rev. Steven McKeown, 825 Franklin Avenue, Aliquippa, PA 15001
May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
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Tidbits from the Archives
On May 12, 1940, a new congregation celebrated Pentecost in the music room of Baldwin High School. It was soon adopted as a mission of St. Peter's, Oakland,
and took its name.
The diocese will celebrate its 150th anniversary this November at convention. To help get us all in the proper historical spirit for the occasion, the archive has provided small historical tidbits from the appropriate month for each Grace Happens. Watch to see if your parish shows up in one of them!
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Bishop McConnell's Schedule:
May 17: St. Brendan's, Franklin Park
May 24: Christ Church, North Hills (Pentecost)
June 21: Redeemer, Squirrel Hill
Leadership at these parishes are reminded to complete and submit this form at least two weeks in advance of their visitation.
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The deadline for submissions for upcoming issues of Grace Happens:
May 26, 2015 - Submissions due May 19
June 9, 2015 - Submissions due June 2
July 14, 2015 - Submissions due July 7
August 25, 2015 - Submissions due Aug 18
All submissions to the Grace Happens newsletter and the diocesan web site are welcome and should be sent to info@episcopalpgh.org. When possible, the copy should be in a Word document and all original logos, pictures and artwork should be attached separately. Please be sure to include your contact information with any submission.
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