PRAYER  &  OUTREACH GROUPS

Contacts can be reached thru the rectory at 412-881-8115 or stgabeschurch@yahoo.com

First Friday Devotion
Parishioners are invited to offer an hour or so of prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament during the interval beginning with Exposition at noon (following the 11:30 Mass) and Benediction at 5 PM on the first Friday of each month in Church. The final hour incorporates community prayer taken from the Office of the Blessed Sacrament.  Sign-up sheets are posted in the vestibule of the Church to ensure the presence of at least 2 parishioners during the entire Exposition.
Contact: Pat Barnett

Lay Missionaries of Charity
Following the charism of Mother Teresa, the Lay Missionaries of Charity serve the poorest of the poor through prayer and the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.  We gather on the First Saturday of each month for Holy Mass followed by prayer and reflection on the charism and the planning of activities of service.  A few of the ways in which we serve those most in need are by feeding the hungry, visiting the imprisoned, assisting those with physical and intellectual disabilities, companioning the sick and the dying, and comforting the grieving. If you are interested in learning more, please email Barb Kralik, LMC at LayMCpgh@gmail.com or visit http://www.laymc.com
Contact:  Barb Kralik

Legion of Mary
A world-wide organization of the lay apostolate in which Catholic men, women and youth sanctify themselves through prayer and apostolic work in union with Our Lady under the guidance of a priest.  The basic organizational unit is the praesidium. St. Gabriel parish has two senior and two junior praesidia.  Our Lady, the Sorrowful Virgin Praesidium meets Thursdays at 10 AM in the rectory following the school Mass to pray the Rosary and review spiritual acts of mercy rendered at area nursing homes during the previous week.  Our Lady Queen of Disciples Praesidium meets Wednesdays at 7:45 PM in the rectory following the evening Mass to pray the Rosary and review evangelization activities performed within the parish during the previous week.   The two junior praesidia meet immediately after school on Thursdays in assigned classrooms--one for grades 3  - 4, the other for grades 5 - 8.  Meetings of the Junior praesidia are supervised by senior Legionaries who meet diocesan child-safe environment criteria. 
Contacts:  Jude Bourdeau (Our Lady, the Sorrowful Virgin Praesidium)
                   Vicki Wallace (Our Lady, Queen of Disciple Praesidium)

Men's Prayer Group
Offered to all men who desire to  come together on Friday mornings for fellowship, prayer and scripture reading/ meditation. Generally meets Fridays between 6:15 – 7 am.
Contact:  Jim Zern

Prayer Shawl Ministry
15 - 20 women who knit/crochet prayer shawls for elderly shut-ins and those with serious health issues.  The shawls include sacramentals, prayer cards and a commitment from the group to pray for recipients.  Approx. 150 served annually, in concert with St. Elizabeth parish.
Contacts:  Elaine Averbeck and Joanne Chesnos

St. Monica Prayer Group
Following the example of St. Monica who prayed fervently for the conversion of her son, Augustine, interested parishioners at St. Gabriel unite in the Church on most Monday evenings at 7 PM for a holy hour dedicated to prayer for the return of non-practicing Catholic family members, relatives, and friends.  Many of our parents, siblings, spouses, children, and friends are among the approximately 75% of U.S Catholics who are absent from the Eucharistic feast.  The New Evangelization places a special emphasis on welcoming them back to the Lord’s Table, because they are greatly missed and needed to build-up the Body of Christ.
Contact:  Pat Barnett

St. Vincent de Paul
The St. Vincent de Paul Society is made up of lay men, women, and youth whose mission is to help, in a quiet and confidential manner, the poor, the needy, and the less fortunate living in our community. We satisfy the corporal needs of our clients by providing food, clothing, housing, and payment of household expenses.  To meet their spiritual needs, we visit our shut-ins, those in hospitals and nursing homes, pray with them ... and sometimes we just listen and console.  The group generally meets Monday evenings, twice each month, at 7 pm in the Rectory.
Contact:  Rosemary Grogan

Twin Hearts Cenacle
Meets weekly to participate in the Marian Movement of Priests to support the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Multiple gifts have been received from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary not only for the Priesthood but for our Parish Family, our Diocese, and nation.  Most Tuesday mornings in church starting at 8 am.