Paul Dvorchak loved many facets of his job during his 25 years at St. Joseph House of Hospitality in Pittsburgh's Hill District, but most of all he enjoyed it because it was close to the Gospel message.

"It wasn't all roses, the challenges of the Gospel were also there," he said. "But there was such a wide variety of men who were served there."

Dvorchak, director of the facility since 2001, recently announced his retirement. He was honored during an Aug. 25 picnic at the home.

There are few physical reminders of the Sept. 17, 1862, explosion which killed 78 people -- mostly teenage girls -- at the Allegheny Arsenal in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood.

A portion of the original powder magazine, a commemorative plaque, walls made of stones that are thought to have come from the arsenal.

But the horror is relived through newspaper accounts of the day.

A 40 Days for Life campaign is set to kick off with a Mass at noon Sunday, Sept. 23, at St. Mary of Mercy Church, 202 Stanwix St. in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Following the Mass, celebrated by Father John McKenna, pastor of St. Mary of Mercy, a Jericho prayer march will be conducted around the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic at 933 Liberty Ave., site of the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil.

All are welcome to join the peaceful, prayerful procession, seven times around the block. The prayer walk will conclude at 2 p.m.

In 2005, the Pittsburgh Catholic made the decision to no longer accept political advertising. This includes advertising directly from candidates for office, ads by political-action committees and direct endorsements from advocacy groups. It also includes what might be called "implied endorsement" advertisements that, essentially from their tone and message, imply -- if not directly state -- an endorsement of a candidate.

Simply put, a Catholic publication has little wiggle room once it has decided to accept political advertising.