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E
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” -Jeremiah 20:11
E
N
IS
S
U
E
ready,
FAITH talks with young
people about making
decisions for the future
set, go!
“Our dad served in Afghanistan!”
Off to Ecuador
The Hersch family talks about
how you can help
Megan Lutz shares the journal
from her mission experience
Think you don’t have time for
prayer? Nancy Paul, a junior at Notre
Dame, explains why she’s made it a priority
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3
FAITH talks with young people about
making decisions for the future
14
– Story by Anne-Marie Welsh
cover story
Overwhelmed with all the decisions
about life looming in the very near
future? Meet four young people in the
Diocese of Erie who are either in the
same boat or who may be just a few
steps ahead of you on a similar path.
How are they making decisions? How
are they “listening” to what God has
in mind for them? And how are things
working out in their lives so far?
what you’ll find in this issue
Everyone is always talking about how important it is
to have a “personal relationship with Christ.” If you’re
not quite sure what to make of that … or if you have no
idea how such a relationship can get started, turn right
to page 8 and see what it means “To Encounter Christ.”
– Story by AJ Czerwinski
Megan
experiences:
a whole new
world!
When Megan
Lutz entered John
Carroll University,
she heard about
the “immersion”
mission trips the
school encouraged.
Come along with her as she shares excerpts from the
journal she created when she traveled from her home
in Oil City to Duran, Ecuador. – Story by AJ Czerwinski
18
– Most Rev. Donald W. Trautman, bishop of Erie
31 final thought What should I pray for?
inspiration 11
local news 28, 29
20
calendar 23
world news 28, 29
Soaring to
new heights
How would you like to be taken
out into the middle of the woods
with little more than a sleeping
bag, a compass and two matches
to spend the night alone? It’s just
one of the many challenges scouts
must overcome on their way to
achieving Eagle Scout status,
something Kurt Sherrard has done
and his brother Sammy is hoping
to achieve. Meet them both and
learn more about scouting as the
organization celebrates its 100th
anniversary.
– Story by Amanda Burlingham
in memoriam 23
24
Do I really need to pray?
Nancy Paul thought it would be
easy to just “add prayer to her daily schedule”
once she got to college. While it has been
a challenge, she shares some great insights
about why prayer has been meaningful during
her life after high school.
26
Our dad served in
Afghanistan…
and he needs your help!
Mary, Kerry and Rob, three of Matt
Hersch’s six children, talk with FAITH
magazine about some of the challenges and
inspiring moments they experienced while
their dad served in the military.
LiturgicalCalendar: St. Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the church Sept. 3 | Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sept. 8 | St. Peter Claver, priest Sept. 9 |
inside this issue
TEC…Discovering your
relationship with Christ
8
5 from the youth director Play to win! – Father Steve Schreiber
6 in the know with Fr. Joe My parents don’t want me to hang out with some
friends, what should I do? – Father Joseph Krupp
7 meet our new priests!
12 the shepherd speaks How am I ever supposed to choose?
4
Former FAITH
Teen of the Year
local news
building bridges with his music, releases CD
D
uring his days as a
student at Kennedy
Catholic High School
in Hermitage, Michael
Rodgers would go to adoration
and see the praise band leading
the worship service.
“I thought, ‘I want to do that,’” Rodgers recalls.
“I’ve always written my own stuff and wanted to
record an album.” Rodgers, who attended Church
of the Good Shepherd in West Middlesex, has
done just that.
Last year, Rodgers went into Mud Hut Studios
in Sharon. He didn’t have much money or a band
of his own at the time and ended up asking some
musician friends to fill in. The results paid off.
Last fall, Rodgers released his debut album, “All
My Love,” which features seven original songs,
with himself as lead vocalist/guitarist. The album
cover art featured Rodgers in black and white
sitting on the steps of St. Peter Cathedral in Erie.
On this contemporary Christian release, Rodgers
reveals his genuine love for music and takes
listeners on his personal journey of life and faith.
“Singing for God points you to something
outside yourself,” he says.
Rodgers says he’s always found comfort
in music. He took piano lessons as a
youth, bought his first guitar as a high
school student and taught himself how to
play. He continued his musical career at
Gannon University where he graduated
with a degree in philosophy in May.
In addition to
playing in the
Gannon chapel
choir, Rodgers
has played at a
number of youth
rallies and retreats
throughout the
Diocese of Erie
including the
2010 Middle
School Youth
Rally at the
Church of the Beloved Disciple in Grove
City and a number of stops on the 200910 Hope & Power Tour.
“It wasn’t until I started playing for
other people that I started thinking,
‘There’s something more to this,’” says
Rodgers, who was named one of FAITH’s
Teens of the Year in 2006. “You look out
and see people lost in the music.”
With an album already credited to his
musical catalogue and a number of live
events under his belt, what’s next? More
music. Rodgers has already recorded a
couple of tracks and is currently writing
more songs.
“I just write what I feel,” he says.
“We’ve all been hurt by things,
relationships. There’s a gap with the
Christian music. I would be the first
to tell anybody I’m a Christian and
Catholic.”
He says he’ll find a way to incorporate
music into his new job: youth minister
at St. Catherine of Sweden Parish
in Wildwood, Pa., in the Diocese of
Pittsburgh.
“People gravitate toward music,”
he says. “It’s a huge bridge to young
people.”
Music by Michael Rodgers can be
previewed and purchased on iTunes,
Zune, Napster, Amazon MP3 Downloads,
CDBaby.com and www.myspace.com/
michaelrodgersmusic. His CD, “All My
Love,” is available at Hofmann’s Church
and Religious Goods in Erie.
CatholiC DioCese
of
erie
Most Reverend Donald W. Trautman
PUBLISHER
Anne-Marie Welsh
EXECUTIVEEDITOR/SENIORWRITER
Sept./Oct. 2010 • Volume 128: Issue 6
Brenda Williams
[email protected]
ADVERTISING/CIRCULATIONMANAGER
Amanda Burlingham
AJ Czerwinski
Jason Koshinskie
Father Steve Schreiber
Most Rev. Donald W. Trautman
CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS
Father Ed Lohse
THEOLOGICALCONSULTANT
Elizabeth Butterfield
ADDESIGN
Art Becker (cover)
Ed Bernik
Mark Fainstein
Tim Rohrbach
Anne-Marie Welsh
CONTRIBUTINGPHOTOGRAPHERS
Rich Papalia
WWW.ERIERCD.ORG
Cindy DeCoursey
Jason Koshinskie
PROOFREADING
FA I T H C a t h o l i c
Rev. Dwight Ezop
CHAIRMAN
Patrick M. O’Brien
PRESIDENTANDCHIEFEXECUTIVEOFFICER
Elizabeth Martin Solsburg
EDITORIALDIRECTOR/DIRECTOROF
CUSTOMPUBLISHING
Lynne Ridenour
GRAPHICDESIGNER/WEBMASTER
Cynthia Vandecar
MARKETINGMANAGER
Derek Melot
PROOFREADING
Father Joseph Krupp
CONTRIBUTINGWRITER
InnerWorkings
PRINTMANAGEMENT
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– Jason Koshinskie
St. John Chrysostom, martyr Sept. 13 | Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sept. 14 | Our Lady of Sorrows Sept. 15 | St. Cornelius, pope and martyr, and St. Cyprian, bishop an
W
FAITH magazine / September/October 2010 / www.FAITHerie.com
hen it comes
to athletics,
you play to
win. Yes,
fulfillment can be found in the
competition itself. No, losing
isn’t the end of the world. But,
when all is said and done, the
ultimate goal is victory. You
play to win the game.
5
Play to win
FatherSteveSchreiberis director of Vocations and director of the Office
of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Erie
I remember a baseball game from
my growing up years. We were playing
a team I passionately wanted to beat.
They had the winning run on base in
the bottom half of the final inning, but
we had gotten two outs.
When you are a kid playing ball, it
doesn’t get much better than that. As
their final batter stepped to the plate,
I was so hoping that he would hit the
ball to me at shortstop. I was confident
I could make the play. I was hungry
for the victory. Sure enough, the ball
left the batter’s bat and bounded up
the middle past the pitcher. I needed
to range far to my left — it wouldn’t
be an easy play, but I knew I could get
there. Those ensuing few moments are
etched in my mind.
As I darted to my left, the ball raced
toward the hole by second base. Once
I grabbed it, though, the out would be
certain. I moved
quickly, but surely,
my eyes fixed
on that baseball.
Remembering
it now in slow
motion … I
stretched out my
glove to the ground,
squeezed it in a
cloud of dirt and
rose to make the
play. But something
had gone horribly
wrong. The ball was
travelling into center
field, our opponents
were rounding the
bases. The winning
Bradford
run was scoring. I
“Steve Schreiber” of the
ays
alw
rs,
Sta
All
thought I had it all:
Little League
!
win
to
yed
the ball, the out,
pla
Christ. Regarding eternity, they are
playing to win. Each of these young
people is seeking the fulfillment and
the joy that come from a life well
lived. Each of them is determined, in
small ways and in large, to make the
world a happier place. Each of them is
working diligently to better our society
by bettering themselves. But, at the
core of their efforts, at the core of their
humanity, we find Jesus.
Have they already finished the
race? No, there is much ground left
to be covered. But have they already
won the victory? Yes, they have. Not
through their own toil can they claim
the winner’s trophy, but by the grace
of Christ they can. They are members
of the winning team, that of Jesus. The
Lord has triumphed over sin and death
and they share in the victory.
The prize can be ours, as well.
Remember, without Christ, we have
nothing; with him, we have everything.
Be sure to visit The Vine at
www.onthevine.us to read Father
Steve’s weekly column and stay
informed about the many things
going on in the Diocese of Erie that
are of interest to young
people.
nd martyr Sept. 16 | St. Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor of the church Sept. 17 | St. Andrew Kim Taegon, priest and martyr, Paul Chong Hasang and companions, martyrs Sept. 20 |
from the youth director
the game. But, in reality, my glove was
empty. I had nothing.
So it is in the game of life. We may
think we have everything — friends,
family, freedom, a future — but without
Jesus Christ we have nothing.
You see, every human being ever
created by our Heavenly Father was
created with the same purpose in
mind: That we might know him here
on earth, that we might love him with
all our being, that we might serve him
through our service to others and that
we might experience the delights of
his heavenly paradise for ages without
end. Jesus Christ is the bridge that
spans the chasm between our home on
earth and our home in heaven. Jesus
is the pathway upon which we travel
toward our eternal destiny. As Scripture
indicates, there is no other name by
which we are saved. If we have Christ,
we have everything. Without the Lord,
we have nothing.
The link that runs through the lives
of the young adults featured this month
in FAITH is their dependence on Jesus
6
Dear Fr. Joe: My parents don’t want me to hang out
with some friends, what should I do?
@
IfyouhaveaquestionyouwouldlikeFr.JoetoconsideransweringinFAITHmagazine,
pleasesenditto:“In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH magazine, 429 E. Grandview Blvd.
Erie, PA 16504 Or:[email protected]
Q
in the know with Fr. Joe
My parents
are trying to
stop me from
hanging out
with some friends from
school. I think they are
judging them without
getting to know them.
What do you think?
A
I like this question
and I’m glad you
asked. The first thing
we have to look at is
the issue of obedience. Obedience is not a word that is used
often in our day and age, but it is
an important one. As young people living at home, it is important
to learn the value of obedience.
Obedience is an acceptance on
our part that there are people out
there who know more than us.
It is nothing less than our call as
Christians.
So, why would your parents
ask you to be obedient on this
matter? Probably because your
mother and/or father are judging.
And that is not a bad thing. For
example, I love Little Debbie®
Snack Cakes. I mean, I REALLY
love Little Debbie® Snack Cakes.
I would probably end up the
size of a small Eastern European
country right before I died of a
massive heart attack.
How do I know this? Have I
ever gone through a period in my
life where I ate nothing but Little
Debbie® Snack Cakes, resulting
in significant weight gain and
eventual death? No, I am making
a judgment — a judgment based
on doctors’ wisdom and other
people’s life experiences.
You see where I am going?
Your parents have a significant
amount of life experience. They
have seen things. They know
what to look for.
Another example: Do you have
younger brothers and/or sisters?
Think of what you know that
they don’t. Remember how they
used to want to touch the coollooking, glowing red thing in the
kitchen? You saw a cool-looking,
glowing red thing there, too, but
you knew that touching it would
result in a burnt hand. So, you
kept your little brother or sister
from it — even if it made them
angry.
In the same
way, your parents
are trying to
protect you and
they are willing
to risk losing
your affection to save you from
unnecessary pain. This is what
heroes do and this is what makes
parents so wonderful.
When I was in Israel, I heard
an incredible comment on Christian art. You know the picture
where Jesus is a shepherd and he
is carrying a small lamb on his
shoulders? I used to look at that
picture and think it was sweet.
Then I found out the truth.
If you ever see a shepherd carrying a small lamb like that, it’s
because the lamb’s leg is broken.
Sounds reasonable, right?
Well, here is the thing — the
lamb’s leg is broken because the
shepherd broke it. I found out
that if a shepherd has a sheep
that will not stay with the group
and tends to wander around,
he’ll break its leg and carry
it around until the leg heals.
This is for two reasons. First,
because a sheep that wanders is
a sheep that is dead. Sheep are
so helpless they won’t last a day
away from the protection of the
shepherd or the safety of the
group. Second, once that lamb’s
leg heals, it will not leave the
shepherd’s side — ever.
It’s a tough story, gruesome
even, but an important point.
Hanging out with the wrong
people will hurt us and bring us
pain. It might be great at first,
but it will ultimately destroy
Two ants were in a
sand trap watching
a duffer flailing away.
“Quick,” said one ant to
the other. “Get on the
ball before he kills us.”
us and hurt people around us.
Like the shepherd, our parents
may have to make some tough
choices, even forbidding us to
hang out with certain people, but
they are doing this to save us —
to keep us from pain that is not
necessary.
I want to wrap this up with a
story from my own experience. I
am blessed with two really great
friends. These two guys are the
best friends I’ve got — they bring
out the best in me and I try to
bring out the best in them. They
understand my schedule, they
walk with me when things are
tough and let me walk with them
when they need it. That’s good
stuff, but so is this — they give
me the business when I need that
as well.
“How’s your prayer life, Joe?”
“Joe, you really shouldn’t have
done that.”
“You need to slow down.”
Comments like this are
uncomfortable for them to say
and hard for me to receive, but
they care more about my salvation and betterment as a human
than their own comfort. This is
a strength to me, and I rely on
them heavily.
But this is what friends do.
They don’t just hang out with us
and support everything we do.
They question us when we need
it and challenge us to do and be
better.
The ultimate challenge? Real
friends — and our parents —
risk losing our friendship in
order to save our souls or help
us to improve as human beings.
THAT is the good stuff.
Just like Jesus did.
Enjoy another day in God’s
presence.
Feast of St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist Sept. 21 | St. Pio of Pietrelcina, priest Sept. 23 | St. Vincent de Paul Sept. 27 | St. Wenceslaus, martyr Sept. 28 | Feast of St. Michael, St. Gabriel an
7
Meet our new priests!
Photos by Tim Rohrbach
Congratulations to the five men who have just been ordained for
the Diocese of Erie, the largest ordination class in more than a
decade. If you would like to see videos of our new priests and
hear them reflecting on how they got to this moment in their
lives, please visit www.ErieRCD.org/seminary.asp.
Father Michael Polinek
Assigned to St. Joseph Parish, Warren
“In the year 2000, one of my
friends who worked at WalMart started talking to me about
TEC, To Encounter Christ. I was
kind of turned off at first, but a
year later I made TEC #20. The
vocation call to the priesthood
started there. I was open to what
was being said. I knew God was
Father Michael Polinek
calling me to the seminary, I
wasn’t sure about the priesthood. I needed all eight years of seminary to
strengthen my faith and grow in knowledge of myself, in my relationship
with Jesus and to become open to what God had in store. The puzzle
will come together when the puzzle comes together. You just need to
trust in God and trust in the Holy Spirit.”
Father Christopher Barnes
Father Christopher Barnes
Assigned to St. Michael Parish, Greenville
“From the time that I came and spoke with the
vocation director until the time I finally decided that’s
what God was calling me to do took four and a half
years. During that time I prayed, met with a spiritual
director and worked to become open to what Christ
was calling me to. Christ chose us, as unworthy as we
are, to be his servants; to serve him and to serve the
people that he puts in front of us. It’s an awesome,
awesome thing to be conformed to Christ.”
ordination feature
Father Matias Quimno
Father Matias Quimno
Father Matthew Strickenberger
Assigned to the DuBois Catholic Community
and the DuBois Regional Medical Center
“My grandparents really are devoted
Catholics. My father was in prison
in the Philippines, where I grew
Assigned to St. Jude Parish, Erie
up. He died in prison and so I was
“I grew up in Oil City and went searching and became involved in the
to St. Stephen School. My time
charismatic community. They helped
there was filled with a lot of good, me put the pieces of my life back
holy priests and a lot of good, holy together until I could see the hand of
sisters. It was just their witness,
God. I needed to understand more
their example in my life, that really about the meaning of suffering. They
got me to think about a religious
also helped me come here to be near
vocation.”
my sister and her family.”
Father Matthew
Strickenberger
Father Ross Miceli
Father Ross Miceli
Assigned to St. Leo Parish, Ridgway, and
Elk County Catholic High School
“When I was deciding what kind of priest I wanted
to be, I chose a liberal arts major at Gannon so I could
study everything from archaeology to business to
philosophy and French. I am very happy to be part of
the global Catholic Church, a church open to the love
and grace of God.”
nd St. Raphael, archangels Sept. 29 | St. Jerome, priest and doctor of the church Sept. 30 | St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the church Oct. 1 | Guardian Angels Oct. 2 |
8
discovering
your relationship
C
E
T with Christ
Photo by Father Larry Richards
9
Father Michael Polinek, TEC #20,
leads a TEC weekend group activity.
Story by AJ Czerwinski (who made TEC # 47 in November 2007)
Photos by Sister Josephine Vuodi, FSO
St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 4 | Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, virgin Oct. 6 | Our Lady of the Rosary Oct. 7 | St. Denis, bishop and martyr, and his companions, martyrs Oct. 9 |
feature
I
t can be overwhelming — maybe even scary —
to hear people talk about developing a personal
relationship with Christ. What exactly does that
mean? After all, a relationship is a two-way
street, and the idea of “knowing” Christ can feel
a bit one-sided at first.
If those thoughts have crossed your mind,
you might consider making a TEC retreat. TEC stands for
“To Encounter Christ.” On a TEC weekend, you will be
surrounded by people who know and love Christ — and are
available to share their experiences with you.
If you have friends who’ve made a TEC, you’ve probably
been invited to sign up for a weekend. You’ve seen their
energy and excitement about it, and wrestled a bit with
whether or not to go.
It’s a bit of a challenge to write about TEC because its
success is somewhat dependent on a series of surprises
that unfold over the weekend. It’s not that it’s all so secret,
it’s just that TEC was developed — inspired, really — in such
a way that each element is revealed at just the right time.
So, while you’re not going to get a lot of those details here,
you will meet a few people whose lives were really impacted
by their TEC experience.
Be assured that even those who do not come away with
a completely new direction for their lives do come away
enriched, strengthened, inspired, enthused and open to all
that God has in store for them in their lives.
It’s Friday morning, and curious teens
with sleeping bags and backpacks are
arriving at the St. Joseph/Bread of Life
Community Center in Erie. None of them
know what God — or the TEC team —
has planned for them. They’ve heard great
things about this retreat, and they want to
find out for themselves just what makes it
special. They are at TEC, where you go …
To Encounter Christ.
This popular retreat weekend is based
on the paschal mystery: the life, death
and resurrection of Jesus. To reflect that,
Friday is known as “Die Day,” when you
place yourself at the foot of the cross and
try to understand Christ’s painful passion.
Saturday, then, is “Rise Day,” when you
rise with Christ and allow his joy to fill
your heart by experiencing the love of
others. And, Sunday is “Go Day,” the day
you prepare to leave TEC and go into the
world to share Christ with others.
Socializing is not the main focus at TEC.
While everybody does have fun over the
weekend, the only relationship component
is the one with Christ — one that
continues long after the weekend is over.
At TEC, you learn that Christ is always
in your life, a refuge to whom you can
always turn. You let go of anything that
is holding you back from entering into
a relationship with Jesus. It’s all about
learning to trust in God. As long as you
come with an open mind and don’t worry
about what is going to happen next, God
will take care of the rest.
Alexandra Farone
made TEC #51 in
November 2008. She
didn’t let the fact that
she wasn’t Catholic stop
her from finding out
what all the “TEC talk”
was about at Kennedy
Catholic High School in
Hermitage.
“My theology teacher
at the time got everyone
Alexandra Farone
interested in TEC,” says
Alex, “so I thought I would give it a try. I
loved every minute of it!”
Through TEC, Alex grew to understand
her relationship with Jesus. As she did
so, she learned about the Catholic faith.
(TEC explains and demonstrates Catholic
experiences like reconciliation, Mass and
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.) It
also offers resources for the future: people
feature
10
to contact with questions, books and
magazines to refer to for further insights
and a community of support that consists
of people who have made previous TEC
retreats.
TEC changed Alex’s life in a big way.
On Pentecost Sunday of this year, she
became Catholic.
“I hadn’t thought about becoming
Catholic until after TEC,” she says. “I
learned so much over that weekend about
the foundations of the Catholic faith, and
I felt that God was calling me to do this.”
TEC retreats are held all over the
world, and have been around since 1965.
Father Matthew Fedewa of the Diocese of
Lansing in Michigan designed the retreat
as a teen version of the Cursillo weekend
for adults. It was a huge success, and
what was then called Teens Encounter
Christ retreats spread to other dioceses.
Eventually, adults were invited to make
the weekend with the teens. The initial
reason was to train the adults to help
manage and work the retreats. But it
grew into a wonderful experience for the
adults, as well, and the name became “To
Encounter Christ.” Both adults and teens
make TEC retreats in our diocese.
Father Larry Richards, pastor of St.
Joseph/Bread of Life Parish in Erie,
is credited with bringing TEC to the
Diocese of Erie. He had the help of a
handful of people who were eager to
make positive changes for youth. Diane
Toohey Gallagher, along with her husband,
Jim, two brothers, Jim and Father Rich
(Toohey), and friends Stephanie and
Greg Schlueter all made a TEC retreat in
Cleveland. They were so moved by the
intensity of the weekend they encouraged
Father Larry to experience TEC for himself.
“I absolutely loved it,” says Father Larry.
“I knew immediately that we had to bring
TEC to the Erie Diocese.”
Father Larry and
Diane met with Bishop
Trautman and worked
out a plan to offer TEC
retreats in our area. It
was placed under the
patronage of the Divine
Mercy.
“We want the people
Father Larry Richards
Justin Fatica
who come to TEC to experience the
mercy of God,” Father Larry says.
“We are not there to judge them.
We are there to help them, to love
them and to give them the mercy of
Christ.” As you might imagine, there is
a very long list of volunteers who are
powerfully committed to offering TEC
to teens and adults across the Diocese
of Erie.
One of the participants attending the
first TEC was Justin Fatica, a student of
Father Larry’s from Cathedral Prep. Justin
and Father Larry didn’t always get along.
“One night when I was praying about
our first TEC,” says Father Larry, “God
told me to invite Justin. I said ‘no’ and
argued with God for a week.” Guess
who won?
At the same time, Justin was hesitant
to attend because he felt he already
knew Jesus.
“He came and he had such a conversion
during adoration,” says Father Larry.
“He has been on fire ever since!” Today,
Justin ministers to young people as a
teacher, high school campus minister
and co-founder/director of the nationally
acclaimed “Hard As Nails Ministries.”
“TEC was the one single event that
propelled me to impact millions with
the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” says Justin.
“Without TEC, I don’t know if I would
have met Jesus in such a personal way.
Jesus truly came alive in my heart that
weekend.”
Even if they’re not called to such a
significant turn of events in their lives,
TEC brings a great amount of grace to all
the teens and adults who attend.
“We are so busy in our world today,”
says Father Larry. “No one stops to think
For more information or an application form, please visit
the Divine Mercy TEC Web site at: www.divinemercytec.com
orwww.ErieRCD.org/vine.asp
Father Michael Polinek
about the most important thing. ‘What
is God’s relationship with me?’ That
question is answered loud and clear for
those who stop talking and really listen
to God.”
Another person who encountered
Christ in a rather dramatic fashion
through TEC was Father Michael
Polinek, who was ordained to the
priesthood this year. He is often asked
when he first realized he might have a
vocation to the priesthood. His answer
clearly demonstrates one thing: God is
present and speaking to us … but we
have to listen.
“I never had any childhood moments
about becoming a priest,” he says. “It
wasn’t until I made a TEC retreat in
2001. TEC put me on an unknown, lifechanging path. In April 2001, I realized a
seminary was sitting on that path.”
A number of young men and women
have felt the call to a life in service to
Christ and the church — as priests,
women religious, as young singles or
as part of a married couple — during a
TEC retreat.
The most important part of the TEC
weekend begins on what is referred to
as the “Fourth Day,” which really never
ends. As you complete your TEC, you
know somewhere in your heart you will
spend the rest of your life nurturing
your relationship with Christ. It takes
time, but God is willing to give you as
much as you need.
TEC retreats
in the Diocese of Erie:
Nov. 12-14, 2010 TEC #59
Feb. 11-13, 2011 TEC #60
April 15-17, 2011 TEC #61
July 8-10, 2011 TEC #62
“Jesus, I trust in thee,”
is a part
the Divine
St. of
Callistus
I, pope and martyr Oct. 14 | St. Teresa of Avila, virgin and doctor of the Church Oct. 15 | St. Hedwig, religious; St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, virgin Oct. 16 |
Mercy devotion.
Adapted from the lyrics
of Fred Hammond,
Lift Up Your Hands to the Lord,
SONY Music
12
how am I ever
supposed to choose?
Most Rev. Donald W. Trautman is bishop of the Diocese of Erie and publisher of FAITH Erie
the shepherd speaks
W
e’ve devoted this teen edition of FAITH to
acknowledging the fact that as a young person,
you are faced with a ton of important decisions in
your life … and that it can become discouraging.
Whether it’s about choosing friends, selecting a career path,
discovering how to develop your relationship with God, picking a
school or embracing your vocation, every decision you make has a
great impact on your life.
So we’ve asked Bishop Trautman to share some thoughts
concerning just how to go about making a good decision. Hang
on to this article. We think you’ll find the wisdom he shares very
useful, especially over the next couple of years in your life!
The first thing I want to
emphasize is that we need to work
at having a strong relationship with
God if we want to turn to God for
help when we are faced with major
decisions. The good news is that the
grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit
are given to us when we ask for it.
Whether you have received the gift of
the Holy Spirit through confirmation,
or hope to do so in the future, you
always can pray for the gifts of the
Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding,
right judgment, courage, knowledge,
reverence, wonder and awe. It’s
important to put aside prayer time
for yourself, alone. Then you will not
approach decisions with a pre-set
judgment, but instead, will be open to
what the Lord will say when you pray
to the Holy Spirit for wisdom.
When you are faced with an
important decision, it’s a good
idea to turn to someone who can
help guide you. Those who know
and love us and want what’s best for
us make good sounding boards. A
person who has mature judgment and
life experience — perhaps a parent, a
relative, a teacher, a priest or sister, a
confirmation sponsor or even an older
friend — can help you sort through
your decision-making process. They
will help you to see the bigger picture.
Too often, I think we make decisions
that are short-sighted instead of based
on the long-range, ultimate goal for
us, which is, frankly, heaven! Are we
including the idea that we need to put
God first in our lives as part of our
decision-making process?
Very simply, our creator asks us to
know, to love and to serve God better.
Ask yourself: “Is the decision I’m
making going to help me know, love
and serve God better?
“Is my choice of (high school/
college/job/friend/spouse) going to
bring me closer to my faith, closer to
God? Or am I simply choosing based
on peer pressure?” We need to keep
the highest standards in mind when
we consider our future.
St. Luke, apostle Oct. 18 | St. John de Brébeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, priests and martyrs, and their companions, martyrs Oct. 19
13
We should be
proud of the
gifts that God has
entrusted to us and do
everything we can to
build on them.”
We also need to make honest
assessments about ourselves.
Many decisions are simply good starting
points. For instance, most people end
up changing their majors once they’ve
had a semester or two in college. This is
normal and all part of the process. God
works with us one day at a time. In this
case, you need to keep asking yourself
what your gifts and talents are. This calls
for great honesty; you can almost think
of it as an X-ray of the soul. Where are
my abilities? What do I enjoy?
We should be proud of the gifts
that God has entrusted to us and do
everything we can to build on them.
In the end, everything comes down to
you and your relationship with God.
You can’t make a decision about your
life based on what your friends are
deciding. God is working in each of our
lives and we need to listen to what God
is asking of us.
There are many ways we can
begin to get in tune with what God
is asking of us. I think the first thing
you have to do is to find a spot that is
Bishop Trautman remembers one
important decision he had to make
When I got the phone call asking if I would accept the Holy
Father’s request that I become a bishop, I asked for a few days to
consider the question. A lot of things flashed through my mind at
that point. Of course, there was a lot of excitement about the call
and what it meant. Becoming a bishop was something that filled
me with awe in the best sense of the word.
But, then, I quickly sensed the concrete
reality, the expectations and responsibilities that
come with being a bishop. Could I measure up?
Was I really ready for this?
That’s when I began to really pray on both
knees and to ask for help. In a certain sense, it
seemed my whole life had been in preparation
for this moment; at the same time, it came
down to one answer — yes or no.
In some ways, it’s not unlike the experience
prayerful for you, a place where you
can be alone with God that is cut off
from noise and distraction. Find a place
where you can ask the Holy Spirit to be
present.
We all know prayers we’ve been
taught as children, but it is important
to use your own words, too. The
Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at
Pentecost when they were frightened
and waiting for direction about their
future. The Spirit transformed them
into people of strength and courage!
The Lord had picked common,
ordinary people who had not gone
to universities: fishermen and tax
collectors. And it was the Holy Spirit
who helped them succeed to the
degree that the Catholic faith spread
to all parts of the world!
That same power is there for you
today. But be aware that it will take
time. It’s not about saying an Our
Father, invoking the Holy Spirit
and then making a major decision.
It must be a mind-set, something you
continuously prepare for. You need to
work on being open to God who speaks
through others, the Scriptures and also
directly to you.
So, put yourself in an atmosphere of
prayer, speak in your own words about
what you know from the Scriptures,
ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit
and trust that the Lord will give you
the guidance, the direction and the role
models you need in your life.
a couple goes through when they get engaged. It’s not something
that comes out of the blue — they have been preparing to
make the commitment, even though they might not have been
completely clear on where they were headed.
But, for me, the answer was, “Yes!” And once the decision
was made, I had great gratitude to God and great joy. Whenever
a person makes the right decision, peace of mind and serenity
settle in. That is the gift of the Holy Spirit, as well. You know
you will have what you need to face any challenges that come
your way.
Again, I use the analogy of a husband
and wife. When they fall in love, they feel
they can accomplish anything and handle
anything because of that love. When you
are a priest or a bishop, you find you have
the grace to bear any cross because you
are in love with Christ and the church.
You know you can handle the task with
the help of the Holy Spirit.
9 | St. Paul of the Cross, priest Oct. 20 | St. John of Capistrano, priest Oct. 23 | Feast of Ss. Simon and Jude, apostles Oct. 28
Craig Butler
Sara Krug
ready,
FAITH talks with young
people about making
decisions for the future
set,
Justin and Maria Joseph
go!
Story by Anne-Marie Welsh
Photos by Art Becker
and Anne-Marie Welsh
So what do you want to
be when you grow up?
That question may come from well-intentioned
adults, but when you have no idea where you’re
headed — and most teens do not — the question
can fill your heart with dread. Who knows what the
future holds? And how will you ever figure it out?
Here’s the good news: You’re not alone!
That’s why FAITH devoted this year’s teen edition
cover story to a few young adults who are either on
the way to figuring out where they are headed or
who have already made concrete decisions about
school, career and vocations. Within their stories,
you’ll see they had some of the same concerns and
fears you may be experiencing. Maybe you’ll be able
to apply some of the same strategies they used to
find their way. And maybe their stories will give you
courage to believe everything will, in fact, work out
— as long as you keep asking God to bless your
efforts and guide your heart along the way.
For I know the
plans I have for
you,’ declares the Lord,
‘plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a
future.’” Jeremiah 20:11
Sara Krug | ST. MARYS
When she was still in elementary school, Sara Krug’s dad entered
her in the talent contest of the St. Marys Hometown Festival.
She took the stage and belted out Shania Twain’s “Man, I Feel
like a Woman.” No one was more surprised than Sara when she
took first place.
Like many middle-schoolers, she shied away from
using that particular gift for a few years, but, eventually,
she and her guitar were reunited. She performed in Elk
County Catholic’s production of “Aida” two years ago as
a sophomore, and may audition there again this year. She
also uses her gifts with the contemporary choir at her
parish in St. Marys.
As Sara moves through her high school years, she has
remained open to opportunities that have come her way.
For instance, when she was invited to teach religious
education classes to younger students, she and a friend
decided to join forces and answer the call.
“I thought it was awesome that Mrs. Wagner
asked me to teach Vacation Bible School, too,”
Sara says. “And it really helped me discover what I
want to do in life. It showed me how much I enjoy
finding creative ways to express my faith.”
At this point, Sara is entertaining the idea of
studying to become a youth minister or religious
education instructor, possibly earning her degree
at St. Vincent College in Latrobe. She’s been
visiting the Community Education Council in St.
Marys and attending retreats such as TEC, the
Catholic Leadership Institute and a Catholic Heart
Workcamp. All of it is helping her figure out — or
discern — the best direction for her future.
“I like those opportunities because it’s nice to
go somewhere where people don’t know you,” she
says. “People listen to you. You learn a lot about
yourself and you find a freedom to embrace your
faith when you’re with people who have similar
views.”
FAITH magazine / September/October 2010 / www.FAITHerie.com
Justin and Maria Joseph | HERMITAGE
Justin Joseph and Maria Rodgers became good friends
and started dating as juniors in high school. When it came
time to make choices about college, they both felt led in
different directions. Their solution?
“We just never felt we had to go to school together,” says
Maria, who married Justin in January. “We knew we wanted
to be together, so we decided we’d just make it work,
whatever happened.”
What happened was Maria headed to St. Francis
University in Loretto, Pa., to pursue a degree as a
physician’s assistant, while Justin enrolled at John Carroll
University in Cleveland, majoring in psychology. They were
four hours apart and neither had a car.
“It was really hard being away from each other,” Maria
concedes. “But if I had to do it all over again, I would.”
While they had discussed marriage, Justin decided to
surprise Maria with a formal proposal just before Christmas
during his senior year in college. (She was enrolled in a sixyear program.)
“We both just felt we were meant to be together,” he says.
Life has not slowed down for this couple. Maria is now
working as a physician’s assistant at Jefferson Hospital in
Craig Butler | FRENCHVILLE
Craig Butler says he pretty much always
knew he would go to college. He actually had
an inkling he might like to become an elementary school teacher fairly early on as well.
“As a freshman in high school, we
took an interest inventory that helped us
understand our skill sets,” he remembers.
“Then it suggested careers that might be
a good fit.” He was not surprised to find
teaching listed among the jobs he should
consider.
Pittsburgh, while Justin is finishing up his degree at
Pitt Law School. This summer, they purchased a home
in Whitehall, just south of Pittsburgh.
“Between school and graduate school, interviews,
jobs, our wedding and buying a house, it does seem like
everything came at us at once,” Justin says. “Some nights
when I come home to our house, I think to myself, ‘This is
crazy! When did I grow up?’”
One of the things these two Kennedy Catholic High
School grads have learned about decision-making is to be
open.
“Before we bought our house, we considered a lot of
factors,” Maria says. “We looked at apartments, at houses
and townhouses. We asked for advice and input. And we
took our time. There were no rash decisions.”
Of course, prayer was a part of the process, too.
“We try to keep our prayer lives strong,” Justin says,
“even if that means praying while I’m on the bus on my way
to school in the morning.”
Justin also says he has learned to trust things will work out.
“If you’re listening — praying and really listening for
God’s will through people and through events — things will
happen the way they need to,” he says. “That’s our part. We
just really have to listen.”
“I think it stems a lot from having five
younger brothers and sisters,” Craig says. “I’ve
had plenty of practice with kids that age.”
Craig has always been clear about the
direction for his life, but he has also put a
good deal of effort into making sure he’s on
the right track. While attending Clearfield
Area High School, he often met with college
recruitment counselors who visited the
school’s career center. In fact, that’s what
helped him decide to apply to Clarion
University.
“After the counselor made her
presentation, I stayed and talked with
her through half of the next period,” he
remembers. “She was really helpful.” That
conversation led to a campus visit, where
Craig made sure to meet not only with
admissions people, but also faculty members.
So how did he know Clarion was really the
school for him?
“The people I met there were great,” he
says. “I just fell in love with the campus. And
the location was just right — far enough
from home for me to be independent, but
close enough to home that I could stay
connected.”
He acknowledges there was a lot of prayer
during the application process.
“The paperwork can be overwhelming,”
he says. “But once I finished my campus visit,
I had the feeling that I could do this, that this
was a place I knew I would enjoy.”
Once he started classes, Craig also
got a job in the campus Office of Sports
Information. Again, his hard work and
openness helped him build on that
opportunity. While he had not considered
getting a master’s degree, upon earning his
BS in elementary education this spring, he
received a graduate assistantship through
the Office of Sports Information at Indiana
University of Pennsylvania, another school in
the state system. That means he’ll be getting
more experience and earning an income
while he works on his master’s degree,
tuition-free.
“Right now I want to keep as many doors
open as possible,” Craig says. “After grad
school, I’ll have the option to teach, to work
with university students or to pursue work in
sports information. As long as I end up in a
job where I’m helping people, I’ll be happy.”
Craig also hopes to marry and have a
family one day.
“I’ve always felt my biggest calling will be
to be a father,” he says. “I’m trusting that will
happen as well.”
He’s optimistic about his future because,
he says, he has strong evidence God has
taken care of him this far.
“As long as you keep making good
decisions and walking the right line, things
will take care of themselves,” he observes.
“Everything is there for a reason. You’ll find
what you’re supposed to find.”
17
18
Megan experiences
‘‘I
a whole new
feature
’ve come to realize that God is the
eternal play-caller for my life. I need
to trust in the paths he plans for me
and know that while sometimes I miss a signal
or misinterpret a play, he is never going to give
up on me. He knows what and where I am
– Journal entry by Megan Lutz
supposed to be.”
Last May, Megan Lutz travelled far from her hometown
of Oil City to the impoverished city of Duran, Ecuador. The
paths she had chosen throughout her life brought her to
that moment when she stepped onto South American soil
and into a whole new world.
An active member of St. Stephen Parish, Megan enjoyed
participating in youth group activities throughout high
school, including Journey to Emmaus and the diocesan
youth rallies. These experiences got her fired up and
opened her mind to exploring bigger opportunities for
spiritual growth through service to others.
In the fall of her sophomore year at John Carroll
University in Cleveland, Megan kicked around the idea of
going on what the university calls an “immersion trip.” She
had heard about these trips — where students immerse
themselves in another culture — and always thought it
would be interesting to do … someday. The trips offer
students contact with people who face the harsh realities
of poverty. Students see firsthand that amid the suffering,
world
there are also great signs
of vibrancy.
But even after she
filled out the application
and was accepted for
the group for Ecuador,
Megan still thought that
someday was a long way
off. From October to May,
she attended meetings
and retreats that helped to
Megan and her new friends.
prepare her for what she
would experience when she reached Ecuador.
The trip cost $1,500, and Megan raised the money herself
by seeking out donations and requesting trip money in lieu
of Christmas presents. She also applied for, and received, a
grant from The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Erie.
“Fifteen hundred dollars is a lot of money,” says Megan,
“but the experience was priceless.”
Electricity and running water are extremely limited in
Duran, but the biggest adjustment for Megan was learning
to live without simple luxuries.
“The group that facilitated our trip was Rostro de Cristo,”
she says, “which means the ‘Face of Christ’ in Spanish.
Their mission is to live out the Gospel message with the
people of Ecuador. Right when we got there, they had
us put aside our cell phones, money, jewelry, iPods and
make-up.” The idea was that giving up these personal items
Written by AJ Czerwinski
FAITH magazine / September/October 2010 / www.FAITHerie.com
The chapel on Mount Sinai
reflected back on everything that led her
to that moment and thought, ”OK, God,
you are right. I am where I am supposed
to be, as long as I keep following you!”
She felt her faith grow stronger because
she was living in the moment.
“You put all of your trust in God and
know that God will provide,” she says.
Megan and her group slept in a
retreat house, but spent their days
visiting the homes and businesses of
Megan prepared for her trip to Ecuador for several months before departure.
the people who live in the area. They
during the trip would help the students feel truly immersed also visited a hospital for people with Hansen’s Disease,
in the culture.
once referred to as leprosy. Some of the patients have been
Megan admits that living without her cell phone was
there for decades … abandoned by their families because
difficult.
of the stigma attached to the disease. They anticipate visits
“I had a terrible time with this,” she says. “My dad passed
from groups of students with great joy.
away when I was 11, and I don’t have any brothers or sisters.
“They were in such high spirits,” says Megan. “We sang
My mom and I are very close, and, for the first time in my
for them and they danced with us … it was amazing!”
life, I felt completely cut off from her.”
Megan feels that the power of faith is what helps the
Megan’s mom anticipated her
people of Ecuador survive from day to day, and their
daughter’s need to communicate
witness to Megan was poignant as she wrote in her
with her, especially since she
journal:
would be facing so many emotional
experiences. So she gave her daughter
“Tonight, the power went out in the church,
a journal before she left and asked her
yet Mass still went on. The people lit candles
to write everything down. That way,
and the priest recited the prayers from
she would remember each experience
memory. This is just one more example of
exactly as it happened. Megan took her
how strong their faith is … no matter what,
mother’s advice and meticulously filled
the Mass must go on because God deserves
her journal with details of her days in
praise.”
Ecuador.
One of Megan’s journal entries
Megan’s future has been affected by her
spotlights the stark reality that poverty is
experience in Ecuador. After she receives her
real and was now close enough to touch.
education degree, she would like to participate in the
Alliance for Catholic Education. ACE recruits and trains
“Here in Duran, we are constantly surrounded by a
students to teach in some of the most underserved Catholic
vicious cycle of poverty and unrealized potential. While schools in America, strengthening and sustaining Catholic
it is so unfair and makes me extremely sad, it makes
education. It requires a two-year commitment.
me want to work even harder to use my God-given
“While it is great to help out in other countries,” she says,
gifts and live up to my full potential because I have
“I want to help the poor right here in the United States.”
been blessed with the opportunity to do so.”
Megan says her whole life is different now.
“There were times in Ecuador when I wondered where
Megan’s most powerful moment came at the top of a large God was … like when I saw a little boy walking down
hill named Mount Sinai.
the street who looked like he hadn’t eaten anything in
“We climbed 444 steps to get to the top,” she says, “and
the last three days. But, then, I realized that God is in me
there was a chapel we didn’t know existed.” Inside, Megan
— and sent me!”
Rostro de Cristo
Rostro de Cristo was established by Father Jim Ronan of the Archdiocese of Boston in 1988. It is a Catholic
volunteer and retreat program based in Duran, Ecuador. There are more than 10 volunteers in three communities,
plus more than100 alumni who host 25 groups per year. These groups come from various high schools, colleges
and universities. For more information, visit www.rostrodecristo.org.
If you would like to read Megan’s journal in its entirety, you can find it at www.ErieRCD.org/Faith.asp.
19
feature
20
Soaring to new heights
W
hen you think of a role model,
whom do you envision? A parent?
A teacher? A clergy member?
What about a high school senior?
Kurt Sherrard of Warren, 17, models Christian
character and scouting values to dozens of scouts
each week. He has inspired countless other kids,
teens and adults to live out his personal mission: to
strive for your goals, do your best and never give up.
You can hear the smile in Kurt’s
voice as he recalls his first few years
of scouting.
“I think what really got me into
scouting was the pinewood derby
racing and activities such as camping
and tours of the post office and fire
department — it was a lot of fun,”
he says. “Plus, every time I went to
camp, there’d be a big group of new
kids and older kids and adults to look
up to. Their kindness and willingness
to teach me and the other kids really
had an impact on me. They helped us
learn from our mistakes.”
When Kurt started as a Cub Scout
in kindergarten, he never imagined
scouting would lead him down a path
of faith and service. But, after 10
years of dedication and hard work
to meet requirements including 21
merit badges, substantial leadership
experience and completion of a largescale community service project —
Kurt was honored as an Eagle
Scout at a prestigious ceremony in
December 2008.
“It was pretty cool,” he says.
“Something I’ll remember for the rest
of my life.”
Duane Havard, who serves as
CEO of the French Creek Council of
Boy Scouts, knows how valuable it is
to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
“People look at it as a leadership
program,” he says. “When they
see Eagle Scout on school and job
applications, they have a sense that
the person has gone through a lot to
get to that stage in scouting and in
life.”
Havard says the final step before
becoming an Eagle Scout involves
organizing and leading a big service
project from start to finish, including
getting approval, ordering supplies,
recruiting and directing scout and
adult volunteers and raising funds.
The sheer number of hours invested
by the scout is huge — especially to
smaller communities that otherwise
might not have projects like this
completed. Kurt’s service project
was no exception. With the aid of
approximately 20 scout and adult
volunteers, he designed and built two
handicap-accessible picnic tables and
Written by Amanda Burlingham | Photos by Art Becker
21
FAITH magazine / September/October 2010 / www.FAITHerie.com
six flower boxes for the nursing and
rehabilitation facility Warren Manor in
his hometown.
And Kurt didn’t stop there.
Scouting offers 121 merit
badges in areas such as personal
fitness, emergency preparedness,
craftsmanship and business and
provides education and volunteer
opportunities for scouts of all ages
and ranks. To date, Kurt has received
42 merit badges, with a focus in
outdoorsmanship and leadership,
and three Eagle Palms for merit
badges earned beyond Eagle Scout
requirements. As a brotherhood
member of scouting’s national honor
society, the Order of the Arrow, Kurt
serves as editor of the newsletter. He
volunteers as a den chief, planning
projects for Cub Scout Pack 13 in
Warren and assisting at Cub Scout
Camp. He also acts as a troop guide,
helping scouts meet the requirements
of ranks up to First Class.
Kurt sometimes works with more
than 70 young people each week,
but of all the kids he’s mentored,
his brother, Sammy, 14, may
admire him the most. Sammy is
following in Kurt’s footsteps as he
strives to make his Eagle Scout
rank by 2012, including earning
all five faith-based awards offered
through scouting. After listening
to Kurt’s interview, Sammy was
inspired to tell him how proud he
was to have him as a big brother.
No rank or merit badge can match
the accomplishment of gaining a
brother’s respect and love.
Boy Scouts of America has been
fostering positive traits in young
people like Kurt and Sammy for
100 years. Through a powerful
partnership with the church, scouting
is furthering the spiritual lives of
scouts diocesan-wide. Kurt is the
only scout in Warren to earn all
five of the religious emblems made
available by the church to help
scouts learn about their Catholic
faith (learn more through your parish
or the National Catholic Committee
on Scouting). He attributes that
accomplishment to the joy of
Kurt’s Top 10 List of
Cool Accomplishments
all thanks to scouting
1. Creating fire by friction
2. Surviving alone in the wilderness
overnight
3. Hiking to the top of Mt. Baldy—one
of the highest mountains in New
Mexico—with a crew of scouts
4. Community-shaping service projects
with new friends
5. Tying knots, knots and more knots
(believe it or not, learning and
practicing how to tie knots with speed
and accuracy never ends)
6. Folding the American flag to
perfection
7. Certifying in first aid and CPR, and
learning life-saving skills for water
8. Sharpening leadership and public
speaking skills
9. Identifying 33 out of 57 Pennsylvania
tree species
10. Building a protective outdoor shelter
using only ropes he has with him and
trees and brush in the immediate area
“He has come to a much
greater understanding of
the beauty of God and all nature that
came from God,” Msgr. Lucas says.
“Kurt has tremendous faith and you
can see his faith growing now in his
parish involvement.”
Kurt and his family at Holy Redeemer Parish,
left to right, his dad, Mike; his mom, Jeni; and his brother, Sammy.
Kurt displays his
Eagle Scout award.
Sammy and Kurt work together to create fire.
feature
22
Roman Catholic awards offered through scouting: If you would
like to start a troop in your parish, or to find one in a nearby parish, contact Joan
Martin at 814.824.1213. For Girl Scouts, call Mary Hoffman at the same number.
Religious emblem
A program targeting learning to a specific age range to help
Scouts learn about their faith
Light of Christ
Helps Tiger and Wolf rank Cub Scouts build a personal
relationship with Jesus
Ad Altare Dei
This cross recognizes scouts for advancement in the
study of the sacraments
Parvuli Dei
Awarded to Bear and Webelos rank Cub Scouts for advancements
in religious knowledge and spiritual formation
Pope Pius XII
For high school Boy Scouts developing lay leadership skills in
the church and community
working with his priest and religious
education teachers. “Of course,”
Kurt says, “I was excited to get the
medals and meet Bishop Trautman.”
He admits that the “roaring round
of applause” he received wasn’t
half-bad, either.
Kurt is an active member and
student adviser on the pastoral
council at Holy Redeemer in
Warren. His pastor, Msgr. John
Lucas, says scouting has played a
major role in Kurt’s life.
“I think because of scouting
and the people he met through
scouting, he’s gained a greater
sense of responsibility and
maturity,” he observes. Msgr. Lucas
also believes scouting has had an
impact on Kurt’s faith life.
“He’s seen the beauty of the
earth and the beauty of the skies
while camping out under the stars
and has come to a much greater
understanding of the beauty of God
and all nature that came from God,”
he says. “Kurt has tremendous faith
and you can see his faith growing
now in his parish involvement.”
Thanks in part to Kurt’s scouting
mentors and experiences, he’s held
positions in the forestry lab at the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and
is applying to the forest technology
program at the Mont Alto campus
of Penn State, where he hopes to
begin classes next fall. Kurt intends
to remain in the Order of the Arrow
through college, and to continue
working with Pack 13 to ensure
those Cub Scouts reap the same
benefits he received from scouting.
After college, Kurt hopes his
profession takes him back to
Warren, so he can invest his time
and energy into his hometown
scouting community for life.
The “Once an Eagle, always an
Eagle” saying seems to be true.
Kurt concludes, “I’m certain I will
be a life-long member of the Boy
Scouts of America.”
Congratulations to the Boy Scouts of America,
who are celebrating their
100th anniversary this year and to Bishop Donald Trautman, who will be honored as the Scouts’ Distinguished
Citizen of Erie County at the Bel-Aire Clarion on Sept. 16. For tickets to the event, call 814.868.5571.
23
FAITH magazine / September/October 2010 / www.FAITHerie.com
things to do:
FatherJohn
Foley,founder
oftheCristo
ReyNetwork –
a system of 24
innovative schools
devoted to educating poor, inner-city
youth – speaks
atMercyhurst
College,Wed.,
Sept.8at7:30pminWalker
RecitalHall. His appearance kicks
off a year-long series entitled, “The
Flourishing Child.”
The St.MarkSeminaryAuxiliarywillmeetSeptember
14atSt.MarkCenter,429E.
GrandviewBlvd. The organization
is looking for new members; all are
welcome to attend the 7 pm Mass
followed by a brief business meeting. Learn how you can support our
seminarians!
For those who can’t wait an entire
year to celebrate, make plans to
attend the ErieIrishFestival,
marking the half-way point to St.
Patrick’s Day. Visit ErieIrishFestival.
com for details on the event held
at Rainbow Gardens, 6th and 8th
streets in Erie, Sept.17-19.
CancerBenefit for parishioner
Zach Czerwinski, Sat.,Sept.18,
1to6pmatHolyTrinitySocial
Center,E.23rdandReed
streets,Erie. Chinese auction,
theme baskets, food and games
of chance to help defray medical
costs.
The ErieDiocesanCursillo
Movement will host “short course
in Christianity” weekends Oct.
14-17 (for women) and Nov.
18-21 (for men), both at Our Lady
of Mercy, Harborcreek. For more
information, visit www.ErieCursillo.
org or call 814.824.1118.
Gannon’sSchusterTheatre,
620 Sassafras St., Erie, will open
its 2010-11 season with Shakespeare’s “AMidsummerNight’s
Dream.” PerformancesSept.
30-Oct.3andOct.7-10. All
Thurs. through Sat. shows begin at
8 pm; Sun. matinees are at 2 pm.
Tickets are $5. For more information, call 814.871.7494.
Word of Life Catholic Charismatic
Renewal Center’s annual Catholic
CharismaticConferencewill
beheldOct.1and2atSt.
MarkCenter,429E.Grandview
Blvd.,Erie. Father William Kiel,
pastor of St. Bernard of Clairvaux,
Indiana, Pa., will present on the
theme, “Healing in the Power of
the Holy Spirit.” The conference is
scheduled on Friday from 6:30 to
9 pm and begins again with Mass
at 9 am Saturday. For further information or registration, call the Word
of Life Center at 814.824.1286.
farm vehicles, and enjoy honking
the horns, flashing the lights and
blaring the sirens. Games, activities,
food and beverages will be available. Buy a chance to win a plane
ride! Sponsored by St. Boniface
School in Kersey.
Enjoy the St.JosephChurch
BreadofLifeCommunity
OktoberfestOct.8-10,24th
andSassafrasstreets,Erie. Live
German music, authentic German
Food and over 100 theme baskets.
Win a Mercedes Benz or $25,000
cash. Admission and parking are
free. Proceeds benefit restoration
of the church and Erie Homes for
Children and Adults.
Pre-CanaLeadership
Conference for those who work
in marriage prep ministry or are
interested in learning more about
this ministry will be held Sat.Oct.
9atSt.MarkCatholicCenter,
429E.GrandviewBlvd.,Erie.
Call The Family Life Office at
814.824.1261 or visit www.
erieRCD.org/familylifeoffice.asp for
information/details/reservations.
TheWorldApostolateof
Fatima16thannualrosary
march,Sun.,Oct.10,St.Peter
Cathedral,Erie. Gather at 2 pm
to begin a walk through downtown
Erie. The rosary will be recited
inside the cathedral at the same
time for those unable to participate
in the walk. Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament and a closing
benediction will also be included.
Father Raymond Gramata will be
the homilist.
St.LukeSchoolAlumni/
HomecomingWeekend,
Oct.9-10. Family picnic,
alumni reception, alumni Mass,
school tours and more! Call
814.825.7105 or visit www.
slserie.org for details and to
register.
The PTO and Advancement
Offices of St.MarysCatholicElementaryandMiddleSchools
are hosting a 5K/10KHistorical
WalkingTourandWellness
FestivalSat.,Oct.2 as part of the
Bavarian Fall Fest in St. Marys Oct.
1-3. Registration form available
at www.smcess.webs.com/volksmarch.htm.
St.GeorgeKnightsof
ColumbusCouncil#4123
hostsaspaghettidinner
Sun.,Oct.17fromnoonto4
pmintheSt.GeorgeSchool
Cafeteria,1612BryantStreet.
Adults are $6 in advance, $7 at the
door; children ages 6-12 are $4
and under 5 are free.
The fourth annual MakeSome
Noiseeventwillbeheldatthe
ElkCountyFairgrounds,Oct.
2from1to5pm. Children can
explore and learn about a fleet of
construction, emergency, safety and
Dinnerandreverseraffle
tosupportL’ArcheErie: the
organization’s largest annual
fundraiser will be held Fri.,Oct.22
attheAmbassadorConference
Center, 7792 Peach Street in Erie.
Call 814.452.2065, ext. 230 for
tickets and more information.
DisabilityAwarenessDay,Who
Iam—DiscoveringtheValue
indisABILITY, will be observed
Sun.,Oct.24atQueenofthe
WorldChurch,134QueensRd.,
St.Marys. Includes a presentation
by Jill Hrinda Patten. Call
814.824.1257 for details.
Father Joe Bruce of Providence,
Rhode Island will present aretreat
forthedeafandhardofhearing
the weekend of Nov.6and7
atSt.MarkCenter,429E.
GrandviewBlvd.,Erie. Contact
Jackie Johnson, director of Ministry
with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,
at 814.824.1257.
important dates:
Sept.16 Bishop Trautman to be
honored as Distinguished Citizen
of the Year by French Creek
Council of the Boy Scouts of
America. Open to the public. For
tickets, call 814.868.5571.
Sept.19 Matrimony, Sacrament
of Enduring Love, is the theme
for this year’s celebration of
Catechetical Sunday.
Oct.16 Bishop Trautman
celebrates Mass for the 100th
anniversary of the birth of Mother
Julia Verhaeghe, foundress of the
Spiritual Family The Work, Sat.,
Oct.16at4:30pmat St. Mark
Seminary, Erie
Oct.24
World Mission Sunday
Oct.31 Respect Life Mass
celebrated by Bishop Donald
Trautman, 11 am at St. Peter
Cathedral, W. 10th and Sassafras
streets, Erie.
Nov.9 Mass and reception to
remember deceased religious,
priests and Serrans, 7 pm at the
Mercy Motherhouse, 444 E.
Grandview Blvd., Erie
In memoriam
Please keep the following sisters
who have passed away since the
last issue of FAITH was published,
in your prayers: Sister Aurelia
Helmheckel, RSM, 83, July 31,
2010 and Sister Denise Mosier,
OSB, 66, August 1, 2010.
calendar
The fall program of Rainbows,
a support group for children who
have suffered significant loss
through death, separation, divorce
or other painful transitions, begins
Mon.,Sept.13,7-8pm. The
meetings, which provide an opportunity to meet new friends who
have shared similar experiences,
are held at St.MarkCenter, 429
E. Grandview Blvd., Erie. For more
information, email [email protected] or call 814.824.1253.
TheFamilyLifeOffice offers
EngagementEncounter in Erie
Sept10-12 and NOVA (for persons free to re-marry in the Catholic Church or those seeking convalidation) Sept.25 at St. Catherine in
DuBois. For more information or to
register call 814.824.1265, email
[email protected] or visit
the Family Life Web site at www.
ErieRCD.org/familylifeoffice.asp.
The latest Pre-Canasessions
scheduled throughout the diocese
are also listed at the same Web
address. In addition, Retrouvaille,
a weekend program for hurting
marriages, will be offered Oct1-3.
Call 814.437.9377 or the Family
Life Office at 814.824.1261 for
confidential inquiries and registration. MarriageEncounter,
(making a good marriage better)
is planned for Nov.12-14 at the
Lake Chautauqua Retreat Center.
Call 814.823.4600.
24
Do I really
feature
need to pray?
N
ancy Paul, a 2008 graduate of Kennedy
Catholic High School in Hermitage, will
be a junior at the University of Notre
Dame this fall. A physics major, she plans
to earn a Ph.D. and work in nuclear
astrophysics.
OK, so she’s not exactly an average bear! But when her
big dreams were coming together in high school, Nancy
knew she would have to be serious about more than her
studies. She decided her prayer life and her relationship with
God needed to remain front and center. Here she gives us
insight into some of what she has learned along the way.
Nancy first started taking prayer
seriously when she took a theology
class at Kennedy Catholic.
“We prayed together a lot,” she
says. “The Divine Mercy Chaplet,
daily Mass. I started to realize I was
being drawn to silence.” The chapel at
Kennedy has big glass windows, and
Nancy remembers often seeing Father
Steve Schreiber, campus minister, in
there, praying.
“I knew he had a lot of joy and
peace and I could see in a very real
way that it was coming from prayer,”
she says. “So I started spending time
in the chapel at school whenever I
could. I started to learn what it means
to just be present, to sit in front of the
tabernacle in silence.”
Eventually she took advantage of a
school trip to Geneseo in New York,
where she and some classmates made
a three-day retreat with the Trappist
monks, most of it in complete silence.
“Terrifying,” is one of the words
Nancy uses to describe her feelings at
first. “You come face-to-face with all
the chatter in your mind!” But it was
also exhilarating.
“I got to experience, in a radical
way, these things I had gotten in little
snippets at school,” she remembers. “I
was hooked!”
Heading for college, Nancy thought
she would just block out times for prayer
in her schedule. But it wasn’t that easy.
Time and pressure caught her off guard.
Because college was so challenging,
she found she had to completely reevaluate her sense of self-worth. Used
to breezing through honors classes,
she suddenly needed to study harder
than ever. And, at first, the results
weren’t always what she’d hoped for.
In addition to classes, studying,
sleeping and finding time to eat
crowded her schedule. But she soon
found that neglecting prayer led to
even more stress.
25
So now she heads for the chapel every day.
“Even if it’s just for five minutes,” she says.
And what is it she does in that chapel?
“For me, it’s about really paying attention and just
coming before the Lord as honestly as possible,” Nancy
says. “Sometimes I just say, ‘Here I am, Lord.’”
Nancy tries to be as real with God as she can.
“We have chapels in our dorms at Notre Dame, so
sometimes I sprawl out on the floor and sit. The most
important thing is just to keep working on building a
relationship.”
Nancy believes God is interested in every detail of our
lives.
“We have to give as much as we can muster of ourselves,”
she says. “It’s thankfulness and petitions and anxieties. We
can even just tell God we are stressed out about not having
the time we need to pray!”
When I pour myself out to
God, I feel a real peace,”
Nancy says. “It’s not that things are
perfect. But I come away with a
strength that helps me deal with
everything.”
She has also learned to keep things simple.
“More and more I’ve realized that God is calling me to
be present to him in little things every day,” she explains.
“Sometimes I use those 30 seconds between classes, that
small pocket of silence. God is not asking us to do some
impossible task.”
And the result?
“When I pour myself out to God, I feel a real peace,”
Nancy says. “It’s not that things are perfect. I get crabby,
I get overwhelmed. But I come away with a strength that
helps me deal with everything.”
Two last comments about prayer:
“Don’t ever, ever, ever give it up,” Nancy says. “There
will be times when it feels as though God isn’t there, but
trusting God in those times makes your love grow.”
She also recommends connecting with others who pray.
“That’s cool,” she says, “because you realize your
prayer is not just your prayer. It’s the prayer of the living,
breathing body of Christ. You find out others are worried
about the same things. When you pray with them you see
yourself and your relationship with God in the context of
the body of Christ which is really powerful. A lot more
things make sense. I know I’ve grown from others who
have shared their experiences.”
26
Our dad served
in Afghanistan…
feature
and he
needs
your help!
M
Lt. Commander Matthew Hersch, left,
gives a thumbs up with young friends in Afghanistan.
ary Marz wrote to FAITH
magazine and told us, “My
father is the most selfless
person I know.” She was inquiring if we
might give some visibility to a cause he
promoted while serving his third tour
of duty, this time in Afghanistan, as a
lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy.
Of course we were interested in
getting the word out about the cause —
we know many young people across the
Diocese of Erie will get creative about
raising money to help address the needs
of children and families overseas. But
we were also drawn to the story of the
Hersch family — a family that includes
six children — and how they managed
through this time.
We brought three members of the
Hersch family together to hear a little bit
about what it was like to have their dad
in the military. Here they are, in their own
words. Please keep the family in your
prayers!
Rob: I was 8 when my father joined the United States
Navy. For the first several years, he was in the Reserves; his
first tour of duty didn’t happen until I was a sophomore in high
school. That was tough, something we had to get used to.
Mary: It was shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, and he served
in the Mediterranean. We were nervous. He was only
supposed to go for two weeks, but it became four or five
months.
Kerry: Since then, he’s served in Iraq and then
Afghanistan. You worry about him. You try not to listen to the
news. There’s plenty to keep us busy at home, helping my
mom.
Rob: You have to remember when he was first gone,
those were the prime teenage years for us. There was a lot
going on. But you just get through it. Worry just makes you
more frustrated. You have to put your trust in God and know
everything will work out for the best no matter what happens.
Kerry, Rob and Mary
days before they
learned their Dad was
on his way home.
FAITH magazine / September/October 2010 / www.FAITHerie.com
Mary: I remember the day my mom told me Dad was
going back overseas. I was in a drive-thru on my lunch
break and she called to tell me they wanted everyone to
come over that night. That’s never a good sign. She finally
told me what was going on and I just remember crying.
She said it would be for a year. I thought, “that’s a long
time.” That night when he told us, my dad got emotional.
We all got emotional.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think my dad would go
to Afghanistan. Number one, let’s be frank — he’s a little
old! You think of younger kids and people in their thirties.
My dad was 36 when he signed up; now he’s 52. He’s fit,
he’s perfect for it. But it took awhile to get beyond denial.
He left the Sunday before Thanksgiving, so, at the last
second, we decided to have an early Thanksgiving dinner.
We threw it together and it was wonderful. My dad was so
thankful. We talked and hung out and played games. Father
Michael Kesicki came by and gave him a blessing.
You go through so many emotions: denial, sadness,
anger, acceptance. Then it becomes more about prayer
and faith. He’s over there. You hope for his safety. And we
feel a lot of pride.
Rob: We had a big graduation party for my cousin while
Dad was gone. Dad always is leading the group circle of
dancing. So it was hard that he wasn’t there. Someone put
a picture of him on a popsicle stick so he was in pictures
with us.
Rob: It was definitely a lot different this time because
we could communicate more than we could during the first
two tours. When he was in the Mediterranean, we were
lucky if we talked to him once a month. This time we could
pretty much communicate with him every day through the
Internet — and he called home once a week.
Mary: And it offers ways for people to do things on
their own. Whether they’re supporting women who create
afghans for families to use as beds or providing access to
medications, Operation Comfort Me is building pride and
self-worth. It’s making lives better.
Kerry: We signed him up on Facebook the week before
he left. At first he refused, but we said, “Dad, you’ve got to
do this!” And you should see him, he loves it! We stayed
connected through pictures. When he got really down from
being away so long, it helped.
Mary: We tagged him in Facebook; he thought it was
hysterical. Everybody missed him. But somebody said
on a Facebook post, “Just think about the homecoming!”
That was one of the most emotional days I had, when my
dad came home. The entire Erie airport was filled with our
family. There are 41 grandchildren on my mom’s side.
Everyone was there with posters and big hugs.
Kerry: Toward the end he got more homesick. He saw the
support system that was here, that we were all praying for him
and thinking about him every day. That definitely helped.
Rob: And he kept busy. He helped to keep peace. He
got involved with Volunteer Community Relations and
developed Operation Comfort Me, which gets basic
supplies to children, women and families.
Kerry: Dad is a glass-half-full person. He’s so caring. He
always wants the best for everyone.
Mary: Look at the picture of him with all the kids. He’s
giving the thumbs up! He loves kids, obviously — he had
six of us. Operation Comfort Me is what made it OK for my
Dad to stay in Afghanistan.
Kerry: He saw these families and it reminded him why
he was there. He related them to his own family. He wanted
to keep all of them safe.
If you would like to raise funds for Operation Comfort Me, visit
www.celebrationdonation.org. Learn what your donation of $7, $10,
$16, $35 or more will provide for the people of Afghanistan through the
work begun by Lt. Commander Matthew Hersch.
27
28
1
What in
the world?
Ten top
Catholic news events
Erie priest named
to Vatican Congregation for Clergy –
Father Edward Lohse,
former chancellor and
director of Vocations
for the Diocese of Erie,
has been appointed as
an official for the Congregation for Clergy in
Rome. A feature about
the transition will appear in the November
edition of FAITH.
2
Oldest known
paintings of
Christian apostles
discovered –
Archaeologists and
restorers working at
the Roman catacombs
of St. Tecla announced
the discovery of the
world’s oldest known
paintings of the
Apostles Peter, Paul,
Andrew and John.
local news
Take your marks...
3
4
New Web site
highlights Catholic
Church’s significant
role in immigration – The educational
Web site about the
role the U.S. Catholic
Church has had on
immigration issues
can be found at http://
libraries.cua.edu/
achrcua/packets.html.
Pope announces
council for new
evangelization –
Pope Benedict XVI
announced he is
establishing a pontifical council for new
evangelization to find
ways to help people
rediscover the value
of faith.
Cross country runners from Our Lady of Peace in Erie
posted some impressive times at the 5K. Participants
included, left to right, Jake Mays, Emily Stoicovy, Olivia
Messina, Devin Petit, Monica Zukowski, Madison Steiner,
Kelsey Swantek and Emily Abramczyk.
Runners compete in inaugural 5-K to benefit Catholic education
Phil Martone, Nick Wojtasik, David Benczkowski, Paul Cancilla and Mike Yourkovic, all students or
alumni of Mercyhurst Prep School in Erie, took the top five spots at the race.
delighted with the project.
In an interview just after the
race, Pregler said he and Haas
ran cross country together in
high school. “Both of us have
received a lot from Catholic
schools and wanted to give back
Andy Pregler, left, and Mike Haas, organized the event
from start to finish. Said Father Nick Rouch, vicar for
to Catholic education,” he said.
education, “We thought, ‘If any two kids could pull this off,
Although the goal for the first
it was these two!’”
year was simply to establish the
event and lay the foundation
for the future, the race generated more than
$1,500 for scholarships for the Bishop’s
Tuition Assistance Program.
Pregler and Haas expect to remain involved
with the 5K before passing
it along to other high school
runners and volunteers who
would enjoy the leadership
opportunity.
“I was really surprised by the
huge outpouring of support we
received,” Haas said. The teens
hope to extend an invitation
Approximately 60 runners
to teams and individuals
participated in this first-year effort,
Six-year-old Mikaela Vahey, a first grader
which went from St. Mark Center to
at Blessed Sacrament School in Erie,
throughout the entire diocese
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
was the youngest runner in the race. “She
for next year’s event.
“The community just swelled around
us and helped us out,” said Mike Haas, a
2010 graduate of Mercyhurst Prep School
in Erie. He and Andy Pregler, a senior at
MPS, approached the Education Office of the
Diocese of Erie months ago with what Father
Nicholas Rouch, vicar for education, called
“great excitement,” asking if they could create
the event.
“To their credit, they didn’t see it as
benefiting just their own school, but they
wanted it to be for all,” said Father Rouch. “I
really admire that generous, broad recognition
of Catholic education.” He and Doug Chuzie,
director of athletics for the diocese, were
Father Mike Allison, pastor of St. Mark
Parish in Lawrence Park and chaplain at
Mercyhurst Prep, gave an invocation and
blessed the runners prior to the race. “Instill
in them respect for each other and reward
them for their perseverance,” he prayed.
and back, along East Grandview
Boulevard in Erie.
practiced for this all summer long,” said
her dad, who ran alongside her.
6
5
8
9
Cardinal Ouellet
to head bishops’
congregation –
Pope Benedict XVI
has appointed Canadian Cardinal Marc
Ouellet of Quebec as
prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. It’s
the first time a North
American cardinal has
been placed in charge
of the powerful congregation.
Pope recognizes
founder of Chicagobased order –
Pope Benedict XVI
recognized the heroic virtues of Mother
Maria Kaupas, who
established the Sisters
of St. Casimir order
in 1907 in Scranton,
Pa. This is the first
major step toward
sainthood.
Church official
criticizes Mexico
City divorce
process – The Archdiocese of Mexico
City expressed
disappointment with
the liberalization of
marriage laws to allow
for express divorces,
which can be approved in less than
two hours.
Cuba to free
52 political
prisoners –
Following
unprecedented
dialogue between
Cuban officials and
the country’s Catholic
leaders, political
authorities in Cuba
announced they will
release 52 political
prisoners.
10
Pope Benedict
XVI chooses
religious freedom
as theme –
The Vatican
announced that the
pope decided the
theme for the 2011
World Day of Peace
celebration will be
“Religious freedom,
the path to peace.”
Anthony and Frances Majba of Holy Trinity Parish in Erie,
celebrating 72 years of marriage, led the recessional at a
special celebration at St. George Parish in Erie.
I did!
Family Life Office hosts celebration for married
couples celebrating milestone anniversaries
“You teach us the meaning of love, you teach us the
meaning of faithfulness,” Bishop Trautman said during his
homily honoring couples marking 25, 50, 60, 70 and more
years of marriage this year. The annual celebrations, held this
year at St. George and at Ss. Cosmas and Damian parishes
in Erie and Punxsutawney, are sponsored by the Catholic
Charities Family Life Office.
Family and friends at both churches showed their support
as more than 140 anniversary couples at the two locations
affirmed their vows and then received a scroll from Bishop
Donald Trautman.
“We do this to affirm
marriage and to affirm couples
who have lived their vocation
through the good times and the
bad times,” said Ann Badach,
director of the Family Life
Office. “It’s great to go out to
dinner or celebrate a milestone
anniversary with loved ones,”
she said. “But it sends a strong
message when a couple also
chooses to celebrate their
anniversary in the presence of God and
other witnesses.”
Bishop Trautman told the couples the
church teaches that marriage makes them
holy.
“Your marriage was not just sealed with
a kiss,” he reminded them. “It was sealed
with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
The anniversary couples were feted at
a light reception following the Masses in
both locations.
29
top ten
World Youth Day
2011 registration opens – The
USCCB has updated
its World Youth Day
page at www.wydusa.
org to include registration for the Madrid
event. Early registration is encouraged;
600,000 young
people from countries
other than Spain are
expected to participate.
7
FAITH magazine / September/October 2010 / www.FAITHerie.com
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30
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What to pray for
31
Ever wonder what it sounds like inside Father Steve’s mind? Here’s a little excerpt from a
column he did for The Vine this year. You might enjoy checking out what he has to say each
week at www.OnTheVine.us.
Hmmm. What to pray for? Whom to pray for? Let me think. Sometimes it’s hard to
come up with stuff. What? Who? Hmmm. Let me think some more. Well, maybe, I guess
I could pray for …
what to pray for
The folks in nursing homes who never get a visitor … tyrants
to stop oppressing their people … the kids in Africa who never
get enough to eat … mothers not to abort their babies
… the boy in school who no one ever talks to … my dad when
he’s having a rough day … all the people who have lost their
jobs … young married couples as they start their life together …
the Christians throughout the world who are persecuted
because of their faith … my friend, yeah, she definitely needs prayers
… the people in Hollywood to stop glamorizing violence … all those in
prison … cancer patients who are afraid they might die …
soldiers, sailors, coastguards, and Marines … the physically challenged
… those who do not know Christ’s love … spouses who are fighting
… teachers who are discouraged … our leaders … young
women being called to religious life … my widowed aunt because
she is terribly lonely … those with crushing responsibilities …
people who never pray … the person I hurt … the family member I need to
forgive … our parish priest … my kid sister … Congress … folks who
grieve over the loss of a loved one … sinners in need of conversion …
the poor souls in purgatory … that clerk at Sheetz who always seems
so sad … travelers … widows … orphans … refugees … immigrants
… my coach … the young people from our parish … the bishop …
all the kids struggling with juvenile diabetes … my classmate who is so
angry … children who are abused … police and firefighters …
everyone who battles depression … friends … the girls on the team …
Gramps … countries that are torn by war … our mission trip …
nurses … the homeless … people who cannot read … those who
feel as though they are not loved … the elderly … those who have
no one to pray for them … my enemy.
32
429 E. Grandview Blvd.
Erie, PA 16504
online: www.ErieRCD.org
www.FAITHerie.com
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