February 25 2011 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg

Transcription

FEBRUARY 25, 2011
VOLUME 47, NUMBER 4
INSIDE:
Page 2: Diocese continues to invest in Youth
Protection Program
Page 5: Diocesan Council of Catholic women
celebrate nine decades of faith and service
Page 6: Religious brother trades hot rod for habit
Page 9: Sports Commentary: Coach and Me
The Joy of
Vocations
CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS
Mason Moore and Hannah Eckerb, first graders at St. Leo the Great School in Rohrerstown, cheer on their fellow students as they play “Who wants to be a CatholicHeir,” a trivia game the school held during its celebration of Vocations Day. Bishop Joseph McFadden joined more than 15 priests and religious sisters at the school
as they spoke to students about their call to enter religious life. See page 8 for more coverage.
Father Conrad
Laid to Rest
Religious Center in Kulpmont Adds Relics
of Mother Maria Kaupas to Its Collection
By Jen Reed
The Catholic Witness
By Emily M. Albert
Father Brian P. Conrad, a priest of the
Diocese of Harrisburg for nearly 35 years,
died of cancer Feb. 13 in the Carolyn Croxton Slane Residence
of Hospice of Central
Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. He was 60
years old.
Born in Harrisburg
on Oct. 29, 1950, he
attended Our Lady of
the Blessed Sacrament
School and Bishop
McDevitt High School in Harrisburg and
Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg,
Md. He was a 1972 graduate of St. Mary’s
Seminary College in Baltimore, and a 1975
graduate of St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe,
Pa.
Bishop Joseph Daley ordained Father
Conrad a priest on April 24, 1976, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg.
Catholicism, like many faiths, grows
from heritage and history. When our
mothers’ mothers or our fathers’ fathers immigrated to the United States,
they not only brought an extensive
background of ethnic food, traditions
and language, but they raised their
children in their faith.
While working as a housekeeper for
her brother, Rev. Anthony Kaupas, in
Scranton, Pa., during the late 1800s,
Casimira Kaupas, an immigrant of
Lithuania, witnessed the plight of the
Lithuanian immigrants who were in
need of someone to minister to them
in their native language.
She decided to pursue the religious
life to teach the faith to the Lithuanian immigrants and in 1907 made
her profession of vows and received
her name, Sister Maria. Bishop John
W. Shanahan of the Diocese of Harrisburg sponsored Sister Maria’s new
More FATHER CONRAD, page 11
congregation, the Sisters of St. Casimir.
The congregation was founded in
Scranton and established a Motherhouse in Chicago in 1911, but not
before constructing an education to
preserve and develop the faith life for
Lithuanian immigrants at Holy Cross
School in Mount Carmel.
More COLLECTION, page 6
Father Raymond
Orloski talks about an
image of Mother Maria
Kaupas, whose belongings are on display at
the St. Pauline Center
in Kulpmont.
EMILY M. ALBERT, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS
- THE CATHOLIC WITNESS, February 5, 011
Local Church News
Diocese Continues to Invest
Significant Resources in Youth Protection
and Victims Assistance
In 2010, the Diocese of Harrisburg continued to
devote significant resources to the prevention of sexual abuse of minors as well as to provide assistance
to victims and their families, according to Msgr.
William J. King, Vicar General for the diocese and
director of its Youth Protection Program.
The Diocesan Youth Protection Review Board
recently met with Bishop Joseph P. McFadden to
review all activity related to youth protection during 2010. Msgr. King provided the overview at that
meeting. “Although Review Board members are involved in every new case as it happens,” according
to Msgr. King, “the annual review meeting gives us
the opportunity to look at everything once again and
determine how to improve our response to victims.”
In September 2010, the diocese underwent its annual audit of youth protection programs. This is conducted on-site in the diocese by an independent audit
firm engaged by the United States Bishops’ Office
of Child and Youth Protection. The audit includes
a thorough review of records as well as interviews
with diocesan staff, legal counsel, parish staff, review board members, civil authorities, and even one
or more victims. As a result of the week-long audit,
the diocese was found to be in full compliance with
the requirements of the bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
The diocesan Youth Protection Office has an annual budget of $69,500. One of the highlights of 2010
activities was the distribution of ID badges to more
than 14,000 employees and volunteers who successfully completed the training and screening requirements of the program. Wearing the ID badge is required of any adult in a youth-serving ministry at all
times when in the presence of minors. Parents and
youth should look for the badge on volunteers and
staff when they are participating in any event, and
should question any adult who is not wearing one.
Nearly 1,800 adults successfully completed the diocesan on-line Safe Environment training last year.
In the three years since this training program was developed by the diocese, approximately 14,000 persons have viewed the 30-minute program and successfully completed the accompanying quiz. Similar
vigorous activity was seen by the Youth Protection
area of the diocesan website which during 2010
logged over 187,000 visits from almost 137,000
visitors.
Development continues on a brief on-line video
training program for teenagers who help out in youth
ministry or volunteer in youth-serving activities in
parishes or schools. The focus will be on maintaining
a safe environment for ministry and how to respond
if a child reports suspected abuse to them. The
Diocesan Review Board is now reviewing the
final draft of the script.
In 2010 the diocese received three new allegations of the sexual abuse of a minor. Two
were found to be substantiated. One allegation
involved a diocesan priest who was deceased.
The activity was said to have occurred in the
early 1960’s. Of the remaining two allegations,
one could not be verified after an investigation
which included interviews of several persons,
including the accused priest, who is retired and
not in active ministry. The initial report was
made to the diocesan toll-free reporting hotline
by a family member who chose not to identify the victim. The final allegation involved a
priest belonging to a Religious Order who had
not served in the Diocese of Harrisburg for
many years. The report
was turned over to the
priest’s Order. Despite
the fact that the alleged activity in all three cases took place between 20 and 50 years ago they were
all reported to the appropriate civil authorities.
According to Msgr. King, “The Diocese of Harrisburg recognizes the terrible tragedy of sexual abuse
of minors in our society. It is an appalling sin and a
heinous crime and it has no place in the Church. We
have zero tolerance for it. Our primary commitment
is to respond effectively to an allegation of abuse
and to assist the victim in recovery and healing.” He
added, “In tandem with that effort, we constantly
strive to maintain a safe environment for ministry
with youth throughout our 15 counties.”
Msgr. King noted that an updated version of the
Diocesan Youth Protection Program is in final drafting stage and will soon be sent to the Review Board
members for editing and approval.
At its recent meeting, the Diocesan Review Board
suggested several modifications to the policy, including changes to the criminal history checks required
for all clergy and employees, and for all volunteers
in youth-serving programs. These changes will be
reflected in the new policy, said Msgr. King
Bishop Joseph P. McFadden was saddened by the
contents of the recent Philadelphia Grand Jury report and reiterated what he said at his Installation as
Bishop of Harrisburg, “In the name of the Church I
apologize for this terrible injustice that was committed against you. The way that it was dealt with in the
Church was wrong and we are sorry. I assure you,
the victims, that you have my deepest love and concern and I will do all in my power to see that no such
tragedy occurs again in the Church. I do have an image that I want to convey to you and it is the image
of the Sorrowful Mother Mary holding her battered
and beaten Son after the terrible crucifixion that he
underwent. Though He was innocent He was defiled.
Please know I desire to comfort you as Mary held
her innocent son. I pray that in time you will experience the Resurrection in your own life and that your
wounds will be healed.”
Those who abuse children betray their vows and
betray the mission of the Catholic Church. They
have no place in ministry. In accord with the U.S.
Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children
and Young People, the longstanding policy of the
Diocese of Harrisburg is to immediately and permanently remove from ministry any priest, deacon,
employee or volunteer who has committed even a
single act of sexual abuse of a minor, whenever it
occurred, as soon as we learn of that abuse. The Diocese promptly relays every report of suspected child
abuse to public authorities.
The tragic occurrence of the sexual abuse of minors
affects every part of society, and every profession. It
cuts across all denominations and occupations.
The primary concern of the Diocese of Harrisburg
is for the spiritual welfare of the victim and the victim’s family. To help with that, the diocese has a Victim Assistance Coordinator. He is Dr. Mark Totaro,
who receives all calls to the Diocesan toll free abuse
hotline, 1-800-626-1608. Anyone who has been a
victim of abuse is urged to contact the Diocese and
the PA Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-932-0313.
Dr. Totaro helps the victim determine what pastoral or spiritual assistance may be most beneficial
and offers help in locating appropriate resources.
According to Totaro, “The first role of the Church
is to offer spiritual assistance, doing what a Church
does best, offer prayer and the compassionate Grace
of Jesus Christ.” He remains in contact with victims
and families, often for several years after the abuse
is first reported.
The diocese realizes that healing is a long process.
With that in mind, victims are provided with a variety of resources with the goal of providing help so
as to create hope for their future. All victims are offered spiritual, pastoral and mental health assistance
regardless of their ability or willingness to pay.
Counseling services are via qualified independent
professionals.
Depending on specific circumstances, victims may
also be offered material assistance as needed for basic living expenses, which may include health insurance as well as tuition assistance for the children of
victims who attend Catholic schools. In 2010 the
diocese assisted six victims. Costs totaled $30,700.
The Diocese has helped 39 victims since 2002, providing $1,300,000 in assistance.
According to Msgr. King, when monetary settlements are made with victims, the amounts are determined by analyzing the real-world needs of the
victim. “Diocesan resources are limited, but in charity and in justice we try to determine with the victim
what their real needs are so that they may receive
the necessary resources to meet their basic needs as
they face the challenges of emotional and spiritual
recovery.” During 2010, the diocese settled three
claims with victims. These out-of-court settlements
totaled $84,000. None of the monies used for victim
assistance in 2010 were reimbursed or covered by
insurance, but came from the diocesan loss retention
fund which is budgeted annually.
According to Msgr. King, additional training is
planned for clergy, employees, and volunteers in
2011. In March all priests in the diocese are required
to attend a session which will deal with professional
boundaries and sexual harassment in the workplace.
Training in state-mandated reporting of child abuse
is conducted throughout the year for youth ministers, educators, and clergy. On May 19, the diocese
will sponsor a day-long symposium on the use of
social media tools in ministry. Msgr. King noted,
“This symposium will help us to identify new areas
for ministry, evangelization, and education through
the evolving tools of social media, but it will also
help us understand the legal and moral issues which
set the boundaries for including these tools in the environment of ministry.”
Msgr. King added a final note, “The suffering of
the Body of Christ continues in the lives of the victims of sexual abuse, no matter their age. But we are
a Church born from the Cross and we herald hope
in the midst of pain, because Christ has ultimately
triumphed over the darkness of sin and its tragic consequences. This is our mission, to walk people from
the Cross to the empty tomb, and pray with them as
they see hope dawn in their lives.”
FebruAry 25, 2011, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS - Local Church News
Sign up for the
Diocesan E-news Letter
Keep up to date with the speed that e-mail can offer
by signing up for the diocesan e-news letter. It will
come to you monthly or as needed and will feature
updates and reminders on happenings and matters of
interest and importance concerning our local Church.
A link to sign up can be found on the home page of
the diocesan Web site, www.hbgdiocese.org.
Annulment Presentations Scheduled
The Tribunal of the Diocese of Harrisburg will offer presentations concerning divorce and annulments from the Catholic perspective in the coming
months. These presentations will be helpful for divorced Catholics, divorced
people who wish to marry Catholics, parish leaders involved in the RCIA process and those who have a vested interest because of family or friends.
Presentations will include a question-and-answer session and an opportunity
for private conversation with Tribunal staff and representatives. For more information, call 717-657-4804 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
• March 2 – Cardinal Keeler Center, Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
• March 28 – St. Joseph Church, York, 7 p.m.
• May 10 – St. Joseph Church, Danville, 7 p.m.
• June 9 – St. Patrick Church, Carlisle, 7 p.m.
‘Theology on Tap’
Sessions Scheduled
Hungering for spiritual food? Thirsting for community and faith? Come to
Theology on Tap, an opportunity for young adults ages 21-35, single or married, to gather for a speaker and conversation series in order to learn more
about the Catholic faith and live it more fully.
Sessions will be held at Ceoltas in Harrisburg and Annie Bailey’s Irish
Pub in Lancaster.
Harrisburg:
• March 10 – Sean Malloy, Youth Minister at St. James Parish in Lititz
The evening begins with arrival at 6:30 p.m., the speaker at 7 p.m., questions and answers at 7:45 p.m., and socializing at 8 p.m. For information, and
to register, visit the Theology on Tap-Harrisburg group on facebook or www.
theologyontapharrisburg.com.
Lancaster:
• March 2 – Bishop Joseph P. McFadden of the Diocese of Harrisburg
• April 6 – Father Robert Gillelan, Pastor of Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in York
• May 4 – Speaker to be announced
The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. with a Happy
½ Hour cash bar, the speaker at 8 p.m., time for
questions and answers at 8:45 p.m. and socializing at 9 p.m. For information, contact Mary Ellen
Reitmeyer at 717-394-1035 or youth_ministry@
stleos.org, or Elise Grignon at egrignon@gmail.
com. Or, find Young Adults of St. Leo’s on facebook or visit www.totlancaster.com.
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat
April 1- in etters
For those suffering the grief of an abortion
A Rachel’s Vineyard weekend is a chance to get away from all the daily pressures of work and family, and focus on this painful time in your life
through a supportive and non-judgmental process. The time away provides
an opportunity to deeply enter the grieving process and identify all the ways
your abortion may have affected you. There is no judgment, only mercy and
compassion. Register early as space is limited.
Totally Confidential – Contact Joy at 717-788-4959 or RVpamd@gmail.
com or visit www.rachelsvineyard.org.
March 2 – Read Across America Day, Bishop
McFadden will be reading to students at St. Joseph
School in Mechanicsburg via Skype, 10 a.m.
March 2 – Theology on Tap, Annie Bailey’s in
Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.
March 8 – St. Francis Soup Kitchen 30th
Anniversary, Harrisburg, noon.
March 8 – Mary, Gate of Heaven Mardi Gras
party, Myerstown, 6 p.m.
March 1 – Rite of Election, St. Patrick
Cathedral, Harrisburg, 3 and 7 p.m.
Feb. 27: The poor often do not get the respect for their dignity that they deserve. This week listeners will learn about a ministry that does just that when
they hear an interview with Louise Pennartz. In spite of her battle with multiple
sclerosis, fibromyalgia, the after effects of several strokes and a visual impairment that has rendered her legally blind, Louise works tirelessly with Wings of
Peace, a ministry in Phoenix that feeds the poor with the respect and dignity that
they deserve.
In our Ask a Franciscan segment Father Don Miller, O.F.M., answers the following ethical questions: How can someone control his or her anger? Do suffering and death come from God?
How can couples negotiate conflicts in marriage? That question is addressed in
our Marriage Moment by Greg and Jennifer Willits, hosts of the talk radio show
The Catholics Next Door. This segment is in response to the U.S. bishops’ multiyear initiative on marriage. For more information on improving, preparing for
and sustaining marriage, visit www.ForYourMarriage.org.
Hear from a journalist whose life has taken a turn after the shootings at Columbine High School. Chris Benguhe is a writer, editor, speaker and columnist
for The Catholic Sun, the diocesan newspaper of Phoenix. As a journalist, Mr.
Benughe wrote about entertainment and lifestyle for People magazine and as a
reporter for The National Enquirer. Following the Columbine tragedy in 1999, his
career took a different course. Two students there took the lives of 12 classmates
and one teacher, injuring 21 others before they committed suicide. This event
convinced Mr. Benughe to make a difference with his words, and he began writing stories of faith and spirituality. His most recent book is Overcoming Life’s 7
Common Tragedies: Opportunities for Discovering God, published by Paulist
Press.
Catholic Perspective is heard Sunday mornings on WLAN-AM 1390, Lancaster at 7:30 a.m.; WHYL-AM 960, Carlisle, at 8 a.m.; WHVR-AM 1280, Hanover,
at 8 a.m.; WKOK-AM 1070, Sunbury, at 6:30 a.m.; WIEZ-AM 670, Lewistown,
at 8 a.m.; WWSM-AM 1510, Lebanon, at 7 a.m.; and WWEC-FM 88.3, Elizabethtown, at 9:30 a.m. It is also available on line at www.OldiesRadio1620.com
at 6:30 a.m. or for download at www.hbgdiocese.org.
Catholic Commentary
Working Through A Hard Death
By Father Tad Pacholczyk
Special to The Witness
Caregivers and health care professionals can and often do greatly assist
those who are suffering and dying.
Even with careful pain management
and comfort measures, however, the
dying process can still be agonizing
and difficult. Each death has a unique
and particular trajectory, but even the
most difficult and unpleasant deaths often have powerful graces and remarkable opportunities for growth mysteriously interwoven into them.
Some time ago, I corresponded with
a registered nurse about her mother’s
final battle with lung cancer. She described the unexpected shifts in her
mother’s condition that had taken place
over a period of eight days: “…passing through a day of Cheyne-Stokes
respirations [a pattern of deep breathing, followed by stoppage of breathing,
followed by repetition of the cycle],
days of such shallow breathing that
death seemed literally one breath away,
days of calm coma, two days where
the smell of imminent death was detectable, signs of diminished extremity perfusions coming and then going,
coming and then going, day after day,
no urine output, then urine output, then
no urine, then urine again, emerge from
this state and embark upon three hours
of increasingly severe respiratory distress culminating in a violent respiratory arrest.”
No stranger to death and dying, this
nurse had assisted countless other patients with pain, air and hunger management. During her mom’s final
hours, she had significantly increased
morphine doses per hospice protocols,
but with little or no apparent relief. Her
mother’s death ended up being very
hard. Reflecting on it afterwards, she
realized that if she had not been both
a healthcare professional and a person
who trusted deeply in God, she would
have been, to use her own words, “out
of my mind with horror.”
Why certain deaths are so much harder than others is no easier to explain than
why certain lives are so much harder
than others. It gives us pause, though,
to ask whether suffering doesn’t have
some hidden but important meaning,
however it enters our lives. As we seek
to use the tools of medicine to alleviate
the suffering of those who are dying,
we realize how delicate a balancing act
it can be, fraught with difficult decisions about dosages and interventions,
and not always guaranteed to work.
When pain and suffering cannot be alleviated, patients ought to be helped to
appreciate the Christian understanding
of redemptive suffering.
The nurse described how she and her
mother had experienced this Christian
understanding themselves: “My Mom
and I prayed hard and much over this
past year. She was expected to die a
year ago. As we began to understand
that she was actually improving and
Father Tadeusz
Pacholczyk
that she (and I) had been given this gift
of time, we became increasingly devoted to the Divine Mercy of Jesus. I
am of the opinion that God gave Mom
an opportunity to be on the cross with
Him.”
Real suffering engages a lot of complex emotions. We may worry that our
crosses will be more than we can bear.
We may not see how our sufferings
could really have any value or meaning. In the end, suffering can make us
bitter or it can make us better, depending upon how we respond to it and
use it to enter into deeper union with
the Lord who suffered and died a hard
death for us.
I’m reminded of a story I once heard
about a priest in Poland who taught at
the seminary. Each year, there had been
fewer candidates entering the seminary, rarely more than 8 or 9, and it
was becoming a serious concern for the
seminary and the diocese. One day, this
priest learned he had a terminal illness,
with only a few months to live. Shortly
afterwards, he turned to God and said:
“Lord Jesus, I will do my best
to offer up the sufferings that lie
ahead of me, whatever they may
be, but I would ask that you send
us 18 new candidates for next
year’s incoming class.” The good
priest faced an excruciating death,
but a few months later when the
candidates started showing up at
the seminary, there were exactly
18 new students in the class.
His story speaks of how suffering has
meaning whenever we unite it to the redemptive sufferings of Christ. Our sufferings and struggles are an important,
albeit temporary, part of our journey.
They are a harbinger of a greater destiny and a promise of our transformation.
Pope John Paul II once described it this
way: “The cross of Christ throws salvific light, in a most penetrating way,
on man’s life... the cross reaches man
together with the resurrection.” Our
experience of suffering and death, even
a very hard death, offers us mysterious
and dramatic graces, with the reassurance that God himself is ever near to
those who carry their cross.
(Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D.
earned his doctorate in neuroscience
from Yale and did post-doctoral work
at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese
of Fall River, MA, and serves as the
Director of Education at The National
Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org.)
A Life of Miracles
By George Weigel
The otherwise inexplicable cure of a
French nun suffering from Parkinson’s
disease was accepted in early January
by the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints and Pope Benedict XVI as the
confirming miracle that clears the way
for the beatification of Pope John Paul
II on May 1, Divine Mercy Sunday.
John Paul II’s life was a life of miracles—a life in which radical openness to God’s grace opened channels
of grace for others. In April 1990, the
new president of then newly-liberated Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel,
caught this dimension of John Paul’s
remarkable life when he memorably
welcomed the pope to Prague in these
stirring terms:
“I am not sure I know what a miracle
George
Weigel
is. In spite of this, I dare say that, at this
moment, I am participating in a miracle: the man who six months ago was
arrested as an enemy of the state stands
here today as the president of that state,
and bids welcome to the first pontiff in
the history of the Catholic Church to
set foot in this land…
“I am not sure that I know what a
miracle is. In spite of this, I dare say
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG
Most Rev. Joseph P. McFadden
Publisher
Telephone
717-657-4804 ext. 201
FAX
717-657-7673
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hbgdiocese.org
Yearly Subscriptions:
$8.17 per family, derived from
diocesan revenues from the parishes.
Other subscriptions: $24.00
Moving? Send us the address label
from The Catholic Witness plus your
NEW address including zip code +4.
Please allow three weeks for the
change.
Jennifer Reed
Managing Editor
Staff
Chris Heisey Emily M. Albert
Susan Huntsberger
The Catholic Witness (ISSN 0008-8447, USPS 557 120) is published biweekly
except Christmas/New Year and July by the Harrisburg Catholic Publishing
Association, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111 3710. Periodicals
postage paid at Harrisburg, PA.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Catholic Witness, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111-3710.
that at this moment I am participating
in a miracle: in a country devastated by the ideology of hatred,
the messenger of love has arrived; in a country devastated by
the government of the ignorant,
the living symbol of culture has
arrived; in a country that, until
a short time ago, was devastated
by the idea of confrontation and
division in the world, the messenger of peace, dialogue, mutual
tolerance, esteem and calm understanding, the messenger of fraternal unity in
diversity has arrived.
“During these long decades, the Spirit
was banished from our country. I have
the honor of witnessing the moment in
which its soil is kissed by the apostle of
spirituality.”
“Welcome to Czechoslovakia, Your
Holiness.”
In its witness to the miracle of Karol
Wojtyla’s life, Vaclav Havel’s eloquence was matched by the untutored
eloquence of those thousands of people
from all over the world who, spontaneously, wrote the Postulation for the
Beatification and Canonization of John
Paul II, telling their own stories of how
this man they had never met had, nonetheless, changed their lives. Many of
the letters were from non-Christians,
even non-believers. Some were simply
addressed, “Pope John Paul II—Heaven”—and found their way to the Postulation’s offices near St. John Lateran
in Rome.
Some of those letters reported recovery from illness; others reported even
more difficult recoveries from addictions, estrangements, even hatreds.
The professor-pope would likely have
smiled at the letters reporting success
in passing exams through his intercession. The pope who lifted up the
vocation of marriage and who was a
fierce defender of the right-to-life of
the unborn would have certainly been
touched by the letters from previously
infertile couples reporting conceptions
after years of sorrow and prayer.
On the day of John Paul’s funeral,
April 8, 2005, the people of the Church
spontaneously proclaimed him a saint
with their cries of “Santo subito!”—“A
saint now!” With the announcement of
John Paul’s beatification, it might be
said that the judgment of the Church’s
leadership has now caught up with the
spontaneous judgment of the Church’s
people. Yet John Paul’s sanctity was
recognized not only by the people of
the Church, but by the people of the
world—hence all those letters addressed, “Pope John Paul II—Heaven.”
Thus the beatification on May 1 will
be, in a sense, an ecumenical and inter-religious affair, in that the life of
heroic virtue being recognized and celebrated was a life recognized as such
far beyond the formal boundaries of the
Catholic Church.
The Church doesn’t make saints;
God makes saints, and the Church recognizes the saints that God has made.
John Paul II was convinced that God
was profligate in his saint-making—
that there are examples of sanctity all
around us, if we only know how to look
for them and see them for what they
are. His blessedness consisted in no
small part of showing us the blessedness of others.
(George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public
Policy Center in Washington, D.C.)
February 25, 2011, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS - 5
Faith and Life
Council of Catholic Women Celebrates Nine Decades of Service,
Spirituality and Education
By Jen Reed
“We are no longer the gray-haired ladies
baking cookies.”
That’s what Peg Clissa, a lifelong member of the Council of Catholic Women, says
of the ladies in the 91-year-old organization.
“I think a lot of people have that image
in their minds when they think about what
we do, and it’s up to us to get out there and
change that mindset,” she said during a
roundtable interview with members of the
Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic
Women.
A look at the activities taken on by council
members reveals a litany of various social
and moral concerns: Distributing clothes to
the needy. Providing meals to laborers at local horse tracks. Promoting religious vocations. Sponsoring spiritual retreats. Working to give people in developing countries
access to clean water. Communicating with
legislators on issues surrounding the sanctity of life, care of immigrants and the protection of marriage.
This is the work of the ladies involved in
the Council of Catholic Women at the parish, district, diocesan and national levels.
Every Catholic woman is considered to
be a member of the CCW. Today, the National Council of Catholic Women consists of more than 4,000 affiliated Catholic
women’s organizations in parishes and dioceses, representing hundreds of thousands
of members.
“Our mission is to support, empower and
educate all Catholic women in spirituality,
leadership and service, to inspire and promote Gospel values in a constantly changing world,” explained Bonnie Onomastico,
current president of the Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.
Foundations
In March 1920, at the encouragement of
JEN REED, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS
Members of the Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women gather to
talk about the organization’s spiritual, service and educational opportunities.
Front row from left are Marian Sneeringer, Harriet Glass, Helen Lagasse and
Peg Clissa. Back row from left are Barbara Burger, Stella Kulp, Joyce Scott
and Bonnie Onomastico.
the U.S. bishops, some 200 Catholic women gathered in the nation’s capital to form a
national organization that would strengthen,
inspire and unite them in spreading Gospel
values and addressing the social concerns
of the day. The National Council of Catholic Women was born.
Three years later, Harrisburg Bishop
Philip McDevitt sent York native Anna
Dill Gamble to Washington to examine
the workings and activities of the national
council. The Harrisburg Diocesan Council
of Catholic Women was established on May
6, 1924. Miss Dill Gamble was elected its
first president.
The diocesan council quickly set to work,
hosting its first conference in October 1924
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DIOCESAN ARCHIVES
Ladies of the Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women gather with
diocesan priests for their annual convention in Lancaster, circa 1952.
Join the Council of Catholic Women
Ladies can become a member of the Council of Catholic Women by joining the
organization in their parish, or in a neighboring parish if their parish does not have
one. Women can also become individual members of the National Council of Catholic Women.
Find contact information for the Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
by visiting the “Catholic Organizations” link at www.hbgdiocese.org or by contacting HDCCW President Bonnie Onomastico at 717-352-3514 or vonomastico@
comcast.net.
Learn more about the National Council of Catholic Women by visiting their Web
site at www.nccw.org.
and focusing on efforts to distribute Catholic literature to the faithful. Projects in the
council’s early years included an institute to
help address problems in labor and industry, Christmas contributions for those arriving at Ellis Island, campaigns against pornography, and financial donations to parish,
school and scholarship funds.
During World War II, activities expanded
to the adoption of war-torn families, supplying linens and religious articles to the
chapels at military camps, and volunteering
with the Red Cross.
The ladies petitioned legislators to support group homes for women, pensions for
blind people, and state aid for hospitals.
And they continued to grow in faith, taking
part in diocesan Masses and retreats, and
embarking on pilgrimages.
“I remember a pilgrimage to Mount St.
Mary’s before there were good paths and
places to sit,” Marian Sneeringer, a member of the CCW since 1952, recalled of the
trip to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in
Emmitsburg, Md. “We climbed that mountain in our dresses, heels, hats and gloves.”
“You can belong to a lot of women’s organizations, but you don’t get the spiritual
development like we do in the Council of
Catholic Women,” said Mrs. Sneeringer, a
former president of the diocesan council.
rolling with the Changes
The principles of the Council of Catholic
Women have remained constant these past
nine decades as members have embraced
new approaches in addressing needs and
serving the greater good of the Church.
“Our commitment to the faith, the human
dignity and to women and children has not
changed. But we change in order to focus
on where those needs are,” noted Helen Lagasse, Diocesan Chair of the Church Commission.
“We are concerned not only about local issues but about worldwide issues as
well,” said Stella Kulp, Diocesan Chair of
the Family Concerns Commission. “I think
of our promotion of Fair Trade items and
our financial donations to Catholic Relief
Services. Through works of peace we try
to help people in developing countries become entrepreneurs.”
With a plethora of diocesan commissions
that focus on spirituality, service and leadership, women can work in areas in which
they are most interested.
Today, activities of the Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women include
projects for the protection of children and
the environment, prayer shawl ministries,
support of the Hispanic Apostolate, and
scholarships for diocesan students.
“As a member of CCW, you can work
within your niche, or you can explore different areas,” Mrs. Onomastico said. “I
think the Council of Catholic Women can
do nothing but grow and continue to move
forward because of the gifts that women
bring.”
Fruits of their Labor
For all that the ladies of the CCW do
in spreading the Gospel message in word
and in deed, they receive much in return:
growth in spirituality, camaraderie, leadership skills and a sense of humility and joy in
knowing that they’ve helped those in need
and enriched the lives of others.
“We get much more than we give. There
are so many benefits to being a member
of council,” said Harriet Glass, Diocesan
Chair of the Hispanic Apostolate/Migrant
Ministry Commission.
“Just seeing people’s appreciation of what
we do is gratifying, and it makes you want
to continue,” Mrs. Kulp said. “We’re hoping that by virtue of our programs, we’re
drawing people closer to God or enriching
them spiritually.”
Mrs. Kulp and Joyce Scott, Chair of the
Diocesan Scholarship Committee, are two
of the founding members of the CCW at St.
Katharine Drexel Parish in Mechanicsburg.
“Forming the council there was very fulfilling because everything was a first,” Mrs.
Scott said. “Anything that was held at the
church, we were involved in.”
They recall the first parish picnic, the first
Christmas celebration, and the challenges
of finding working appliances for social
events. They also recall how they came together as a group.
“Being a new parish and a young parish,
a lot of the women really weren’t aware of
what CCW does. Fortunately, there were
some who had been previously involved in
CCW, and it was through their mentoring
that we got it going,” Mrs. Kulp said.
Ladies who are interested in joining a
council can do so at their parish (or via a
neighboring parish if their parish does not
have one) or by becoming an individual
member of the National Council of Catholic Women. See the accompanying box for
information.
“Our strength is that we are women dedicated to the Church, to our parishes and
to each other, and we really want to help
each other grow spiritually in every way,”
Mrs. Sneeringer said. “We’re always going
to have those basic focuses, regardless of
whatever else we do.”
Save the Date
86th Annual HDCCW Convention
May 2 at the Cardinal Keeler Center in Harrisburg
The day will include a keynote address, a Mass concelebrated by the priests of
the diocese, lunch, an afternoon workshop on the theme of the convention, “Spirituality, Service and Leadership,” and a closing prayer service. There will also be
exhibits, Fair Trade and religious items for purchase, collections and raffles.
Additional information will be available from your parish Council of Catholic
women and The Catholic Witness.
Catholic Culture
Collection
Continued from 1
It is this key factor in history that roots Mother
Maria to the coal region, and brings her belongings
to the St. Pauline Center in Kulpmont. Sister Maria,
declared Venerable Mother Maria Kaupas on July 1,
2010, continued her pursuit to educate in faith across
the world. She returned to her homeland by the request of the Lithuanian bishops and later traveled
to New Mexico to staff schools before her death on
April 17, 1940, leaving a long road of legacy.
Father Raymond Orloski, a retired priest of the
Diocese of Harrisburg, and Bob Greco of the St. Pauline Center decided what better way to continue her
legacy and prayers for sainthood than to bring some
of her belongings back to the community where she
walked the roads and began her quest of Lithuanian
education.
“I felt it important the center be set aside to make
known the cause of Venerable Mother, since she
walked the streets and cared for the children of the
Lithuanian immigrants,” Father Orloski said.
The center is located at 1150 Chestnut Street in
Kulmpont, and visitors can see personal items from
Mother Maria that include a blue cord she wore with
her vestments, a book, “Fevorinus from Galilee’s
Hill,” an amber rosary and cross given to Mother
Maria by the Lithuanian Sisters of St. Casimir, and a
Roman missal in Latin and English given as a gift on
the occasion of the religious order’s silver jubilee in
1932. There are also several paintings donated by her
order, which were all painted by one of the Sisters of
St. Casimir, Sister Kathleen Smith.
Mother Maria’s personal belongings are the most
recent addition of artifacts; other collections visitors
may view include the relics of St. Pauline, foundress of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the
Immaculate Conception in Brazil and patron saint
of diabetics; and the Papal Zucchetto worn by Pope
John Paul II, presented to Father Orloski on Dec. 22,
2004.
The center also houses pieces of the coal region’s
spiritual history, as well as a chapel for adoration Friday evening through Saturday evening every week.
Father Orloski describes the center as a place for
spiritual and physical well being, as its hosts blood
drives, health seminars from local hospitals, and presentations on diabetes and cancer.
“Sometimes people have an aversion to going to
the hospital for such lectures or seminars; they feel
more relaxed at the center,” he said.
He and the rest of the people involved in the Mother
Pauline Religious Foundation welcome visitors from
all over, whether it be to attend a seminar or to regain
a touch of history.
Information about the Mother Pauline Religious
Foundation and the St. Pauline Center can be found
at www.saintpaulinecenter.org.
THE CATHOLIC WITNESS, EMILY M. ALBERT
Mother Maria Kaupas’ items on display at the St. Pauline Center include a Missal in English and Latin (top
left), a cord that she wore as part of her habit (top) and a rosary (below).
St. Pauline Center Plans Camp
for Children with Diabetes
Children who have been diagnosed with diabetes are invited to attend Camp Pauline in Kulpmont this
summer. The day camp is a ministry of the Mother Pauline Visintainer Religious Foundation.
The camp will provide children with juvenile diabetes an opportunity to meet and interact with one
another, and will provide information on diabetes nutrition, lifestyle and presentations by health care
professionals.
Camp Pauline is located on the grounds of the St. Pauline Complex in Kulpmont. It will be staffed by
experienced health care professionals. While children participate in activities, adults can attend diabetes
awareness sessions. Staff will work with parents to obtain funding through private resources or via donations and scholarships.
The day camp will be offered June 6-10, July 11-15 and Aug. 8-12. Children and adults can attend more
than one day.
For a detailed brochure about the camp, or to make reservations, call 570-373-3350 or e-mail info@
saintpaulinecenter.org. Information about the Mother Pauline Visintainer Religious Foundation can be
found at www.saintpaulinecenter.org.
February 25, 2011, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS - Faith and Life
From H ot W Heels to Holy Orders:
New Freedom Native Trades Show Car for Religious Vocation
By Jen Reed
Fifteen years ago, Joshua Zeller was sinking a few thousand dollars a year into his
suped-up Honda CRX, working at a hardware store, attending parties, and maybe
going to Mass two or three times a year.
Today, as Brother John Paul Mary of Divine Mercy, the 34-year-old New Freedom
native is living the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and studying at Mount
St. Mary’s Seminary for eventual priestly
ordination as a Franciscan Missionary of
the Eternal Word.
His journey from a 20-something nonpracticing Catholic to a 30-something in
a religious habit yields an extraordinary
story about the presence and power of God
– especially when it’s least expected.
Growing up Catholic in New Freedom,
young Joshua attended Mass every Sunday
with his parents and his brother.
“Sunday Mass was just a part of our
life. Mom taught us to pray, and took
us to CCD every week,” Brother John
Paul Mary said. “Every time we went to
Mass, my mom would tell me how important it was to receive Communion.”
But after he was confirmed in eighth
grade, Joshua’s attendance at Mass began
to dwindle. By the time he was in high
school, practicing the faith took a back seat
to his interest in skateboards, roller rinks
and bikes.
After high school graduation, he took a
full-time job at True Value Hardware. The
money he earned went straight to his “trophy on wheels:” a 1991 red Honda CRX.
For Joshua, life revolved around the car
and showing it off at car shows from Connecticut to North Carolina.
“The car became a sort of god, something
that consumed my life,” he said.
“I was pumping $2,000-$3,000 a year
into it. I’d be happy for six months because
of what I did with it – paint jobs, ground effects, chrome wheels, a big motor,” he said.
“My goal was to have a car that not only
young people would gawk at, but that 60year-old street rodders would turn to see. It
was all about ego, all about ‘Look at me.’”
But one encounter with the Lord would
change all that, literally overnight.
‘I Knew in an Instant’
Brother John Paul can recall nearly every
detail of what he refers to as his conversion
experience.
“You hear stories of people coming back
to the faith gradually. Mine was instantaneous,” he said.
After watching with a group of friends as
the Orioles and Yankees squared off in an
Oct. 15, 1997, playoff game on TV, Joshua and a friend both felt an urge to get in
the Honda and leave the party. As the two
headed home, Joshua unexpectedly pulled
the car to the side of the road in front of St.
John the Baptist Church. He didn’t know
why.
“Here I was, 21 years old, not practicing the faith, and I’m sitting in front of the
church at 10 at night,” he recounted. “I
walked in and genuflected. I sat in a pew
and asked, ‘God, why am I here?’”
He doesn’t know how long the two of
them sat in the church, but after awhile,
Joshua began to lead his friend – a nondenominational Christian – in praying the
Hail Mary.
“It was the first time in a long time that I
prayed,” Brother John Paul Mary recalled.
“No sooner did we finish that prayer that
there was this overwhelming sense that
someone was watching over us.”
Joshua and his friend left St. John’s, but
returned later that night and found God’s
presence to be even stronger.
“We experienced what I say is the power
of the Holy Spirit. I knew in an instant how
much God loved me,” he said. “I wasn’t
looking for God that night; he was looking
for me. My heart was opened a little crack
when I was driving past St. John’s, and the
Lord invited me in.”
The next morning, he realized it was
time for his life to change. He began attending Mass and was awakened to the real
presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He spent
hours of prayer in the parish’s perpetual
adoration chapel. He read the Bible and the
Catechism.
In 1998, four years after high school
graduation, Joshua was accepted to attend
DeVry University in Columbus, Ohio. Several weeks before the start of the fall semester, he attended a men’s retreat at Mount St.
Mary’s with his grandfather. There, he met
Paul Clark (now Father Clark), who was
just getting ready to enter the seminary to
become a diocesan priest. The two became
fast friends.
“It was really the first time that I had
someone my age to talk with about the
faith,” Brother John Paul Mary said. “On
that retreat, we talked about the Eucharist,
the Blessed Mother, the Church. We were
up at the grotto and Paul asked me if I
thought I might be called to the priesthood.
It threw me back, and then it ignited a fire
and a curiosity in my heart.”
Joshua completed his studies at DeVry,
and as his classmates applied for jobs, he
applied to become a seminarian for the Diocese of Harrisburg. He was accepted and
went to the Pontifical College Josephinum
in Columbus in August 2000.
Sweet Home alabama
While in his second year at the seminary, Joshua joined several classmates on
a semester-break retreat to the Shrine of
the Most Blessed Sacrament and “EWTN
Land” in Alabama. Joshua’s experience
with the Franciscan Missionaries of the
Eternal Word was his first real look at a religious order, and it caught his attention.
“I felt a peace there with the friars, seeing their joy and enthusiasm. I felt it was
something I wanted, and I had a sense that
I was at home there,” he remarked.
The following summer, he returned to
Alabama to spend a month with the friars. It was during his final year of college
seminary in 2004 that he decided to join
the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal
Word.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to leave the
diocese,” he said, “but I was drawn to this
simplicity of life.”
The charism of the order – founded by
Mother Angelica – is to evangelize through
modern means of the media. Reaching out
to fallen-away Catholics and offering hope
to the suffering are among their focuses.
Brother John Paul Mary made his first
profession on Aug. 2, 2006, and professed
perpetual vows on Aug. 14, 2010. His diaconate ordination will be in May 2012, with
priesthood ordination the following year.
When he looks at his path from fast cars
to a religious habit, Brother John Paul Mary
points out that “God calls ordinary men to
lead extraordinary lives,” and that “every
vocation requires sacrifice.”
“I saw the positive in giving myself up
for others. It was a great burden lifted off
my shoulders, because I knew that if the
Lord was calling me, he would give me
the grace to live that vocation happily,” he
said. “For me, I had this desire to give up
everything to follow the Lord Jesus.”
And that includes the suped-up Honda,
which he sold while he was in college seminary for half of what he invested in it.
Friar brown suits him much better than
cherry red anyway.
Brother Joh
PHOTOS C
n
mingham, A Paul Mary of Divine OURTESY OF BROTHER JOH
Mercy rolle
la.
rblades at N PAUL MARY
a park in B
ir-
Brother John Paul Mary of Divine Mercy shares a moment with Mother Angelica, who founded the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word in
1987.
r, who gave
Zelle
for Joshua
y
h
p
o
tr
a
s
a
nda CRX w
ious life.
The red Ho ns to enter into relig
sio
his posses
up all
Local Church News
Benedictine Father John
Peck, pastor of St. Paul the
Apostle Parish in Annville,
enlivens students as he meets
with them on Vocations Day.
St. Leo the Great School Continues
Vocations Day Tradition
By Chris Heisey
Bishop Joseph
McFadden interacts with students
as they extend
him a warm welcome to St. Leo
the Great School.
St. Francis Sister
Anna Cosgrave,
from Our Lady of
the Angels School
in Columbia, talks
to students about
the apparition
of Our Lady of
Knock in Ireland.
Ever since Ronald Reagan was president,
the faithful at St. Leo the Great School,
Rohrerstown, have been hosting a Vocations
Day, which not only shows the parish’s commitment to promoting religious vocations,
but also shows the vibrant spiritual life the
parish has been able to foster for many years
running.
Bishop Joseph McFadden made a pastoral visit to the school during the day and he
shared his unique, fascinating journey to his
priestly vocation. “God calls us every day,”
Bishop McFadden said. “He wants us to help
build his kingdom…. I want you to tell the
world about Jesus.”
After the bishop spoke to the entire student
body and faculty in the Father William Sullivan gymnasium – named in honor of the
retired priest who served at St. Leo’s for 27
years as pastor – the bishop celebrated Holy
Mass in the church. Several priests from the
diocese and a number of visiting priests who
participated in the vocation day concelebrated
Mass, and Father Peter Hahn, pastor, served
as master of ceremonies.
Prior to the bishop’s visit, the students heard
from more than 15 visiting priests and sisters
who visited each grade during the morning
hours to discuss the importance of listening
for God’s call. Later, the students and faculty
participated in a creative trivia game exercise
dubbed “Who wants to be a Catholic-Heir,”
which pitted several grades against one another. The theme was “Doctors of the Church”
which demanded the students recall factoids
about the Church’s 33 saintly doctors. Father
Hahn has spent the year teaching the students
about these saints, including the 5th Century
pontiff, St. Leo.
The day-long Vocations Day was the first
established in the diocese and according to
Alan Schwartz, the school’s development director, the day would not be possible without
the faculty, and numerous volunteer efforts of
many of the parish’s faithful, who have given
their time and talents for the past quarter of a
century.
February 25, 2011, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS - Catholic Sports Report
Sports Commentary
Coach and Me
By Chris Heisey
F
or those of us who played sports in our youth,
we had all types of coaches influence and affect our lives. No doubt you know a certain coach you
had years ago who was tough as nails and intimidated
you. At the time, you dreaded their gruff demeanor
and spiteful insults. It’s only human nature, but over
the years you develop a certain mystical nostalgia that
numbs you to the past. What you remember, instead,
is the great coach that gave you that needed push or
prod at the right time. Discipline and toughness breed
true grit the old school says.
Of late, I have had the misfortune of being in the
company of seasoned people who harken back to the
good ole days when discipline was swift and just.
Those days were good because kids feared the belt
and the tongue lashing that came with the sting, so
the story says.
I had my share of coaches who governed the old
fashioned way. I thought them tyrants then and no
amount of nostalgia is going to numb me to feel good
now. I’ll never forget my sixth grade public school
English teacher who was also my baseball coach later, beat a kid named Daryl with a paddle three times
across his rear for stealing something petty out of a
school locker. It was 1976, our nation’s bicentennial,
and I remember it as if it were yesterday when Daryl
was made to pull his pants down in front of the whole
class for three mighty swats. Still hear the crack and
scream. Often wonder where Daryl is these days.
Just saw that teacher in the doctor’s office a few
weeks ago as I was sitting with my infirmed dad waiting for an appointment. That teacher and coach did
not remember me and understandably so, as I was just
a pee-wee back then. But I surely do not forget him.
That gruff and tough stuff never gave me true grit or
rosy memories of the good old days either. He seems
happy in the winter of his life.
Funny thing is just a few days later, I saw my junior high basketball coach buying a newspaper with
his grandson in a convenience store. Seems to have
mellowed in his old age and his role is more the doting grandpa rather than tough guy on the hardwood.
He did not recognize me either, as 35 years tends to
fatten you up some. Sure do remember him because
you never forget getting drilled in the side of the head
with a basketball when you’re not looking or getting
an elbow to the chin when you forgot to box out.
I had a few other coaches who were idiots as well in
my young days growing up in small town Central PA.
I survived despite facing the stupid abuse and petty
beliefs that breeds this behavior. Do me this favor, the
next time you wax poetic or sing praise of the good
old days, hit your head against the wall hard enough
that it hurts. Helps you remember too.
Good thing my story does not stop here.
In my first week at college, I met a man who changed
my life. Though it took me days to get up the courage
to seek him out, I finally got the gumption and bravery required to talk to Millersville University’s golf
coach, Dr. Smart.
I wasn’t ready for a positive experience. Wonder
why? I was welcomed in warm fashion, though my
skill set as a walk-on was hardly known. I was encouraged to attend practice. Though the course was two
miles from campus I was invited to play a practice
round that September night. I had no ride to the course
but the man made me want to go. If I had waited another day to go see him, I suspect my life would not
be the same.
I cut out of philosophy class early, grabbed my golf
bag and made the 2.5 mile walk to the course. Shot 37
on the backside of Conestoga Country Club and then
hit some practice putts with some team members on
the green as the sun set on a perfect September day.
That day in 1982 has always ranked as one of the
best days of my life. Sure playing well helped, meeting
new friends was special, but I knew then that Coach
Smart was a genuine person who I wanted to be associated with for the rest of my life. He never asked me
how I got to the course. It wasn’t important.
For the past five Januarys, I have been blessed to
make the 1,100 mile trek to his retirement home near
Tampa, Florida. We used to play golf all day and talk
life just like the good old days. These days instead,
we photograph birds in swamps and in seaside links
that challenge the photographer to see anew. He loves
birds, he loves learning photography, and it’s so much
the joy to teach him my craft which I have worked at
since graduating 25 years ago this year.
And while I learned the game of golf from Coach,
I learned much more. Like how you treat people, and
that tough has nothing to do with gruff. He taught me
how to be a life-long learner and that I matter. Sure I
can shoot in the 60s in golf, but I learned from him
that it’s no different than shooting 80. You go to work
every day and work no matter your score. While playing tournament golf, he taught me how to be a focused
photographer who sees opportunity, not obstacle. Golf
was the vehicle to teach me more important things.
One time just after I was named captain, Coach
needed a package dropped off in Lancaster.
“Take my car,” he said. It was a ’72 Dodge Colt,
manual transmission with a rusted out floor board.
Fred Flintstone would have been able to pedal the car
with his feet.
“Coach, I can’t drive stick,” I said. “Sure you can,
just use the clutch when you shift. Reverse sticks a
little, but you’ll figure it out.”
Bucked and stalled my way all the way through
Lancaster city. Only once during the harrowing journey did I need a push to get my tail out of a fix. I just
about died of anxiety until I got back safely on campus. I knew I was going to die.
Several days later, he asked me how it went.
“Never doing that again, Coach” I said.
“Ahh,” he replied in his Yankee New England
drawl. “Sure you will. You already did it once so next
time will be a piece of cake. The tough part is over.”
“Get a better car,” I quipped back. “Maybe then I’ll
do it.”
“I don’t need a better car, you need a better attitude.”
Just got back from Florida not long ago – drove
3,006 miles – chasing and photographing birds with
a man I truly thank God for every day. When I came
back north driving through a harrowing ice storm from
seeing that old fashioned Yankee, I felt stress and fear
was real. But I made it home with my nostalgia intact
and a better attitude once again.
He knows how to coach.
One of nature’s most elusive birds, a Green Heron, taken in Sweetwater Slough, Florida, a favorite
place to photograph for the both of us.
An American Alligator catches first light in Big Cypress Nature
Preserve near Miami.
This recent image of a Lowland Gorilla mother with her toddler
at the National Zoo, Washington, D.C., was made possible by a
valuable “golf” lesson taught to me by my coach nearly some 30
years ago. The image won first prize in the 2010 Popular Photography International Photo Contest.
10 - THE CATHOLIC WITNESS, February 25, 2011
Faith and Life
50 Years of Religious Liberty Advocacy
By Phil Murren, Esq.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
These First Amendment words express the “wall
of separation between church and state” idea that
Thomas Jefferson penned in a letter to persecuted
Baptists in Connecticut in 1802.
The freedom of religious entities and Church
members to practice their faith without undue government interference is an essential element of the
delicate church-state relationship. Yet the modern
trend is for government to continually insert itself
into all aspects of human endeavor, including those
historically the concern of churches. Church-state
conflicts are the inevitable result of the expansion
of governmental authority and regulation.
PCC has remained vigilant in its efforts to deter governmental interference with the free exercise of religion. For example, for over 40 of its 50
years, PCC has waged an ongoing struggle with
the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
(DPW) over that agency’s determined attempts to
influence the curriculum and developmental goals
of the Church’s ministries to pre-school children.
That struggle has flared in all three branches of
government: legislative, executive (administrative
agencies) and judicial. The ultimate outcome is
still uncertain.
After closely observing the struggles in other
states between religious schools and government
education regulators, PCC and its allies worked
to achieve the adoption of the Religious Schools
Act in 1986. That statute assured the freedom of
religious schools to choose their own teachers and
curricula, a freedom that is still being fought for
with respect to church pre-school programs. In
a declaration that serves as a charter of religious
educational freedom, the 1986 statute stated:
It is the policy of the Commonwealth to preserve the primary right and the obligation of the
parent … of a child to choose the education and
training for such child. Nothing contained in this
act [i.e., the Public School Code] shall empower
the Commonwealth … to approve the course content, faculty, staff or disciplinary requirements of
any religious school … without the consent of said
school.
Religious liberty sustained an unexpected blow in
1990 when its traditional guarantor – the U.S. Supreme Court – severely devalued the Free Exercise
Clause of the First Amendment. Until that time, the
Free Exercise Clause had been treated as the “first
of the First” in the realm of sacrosanct constitutional values. The Supreme Court had described it as a
fundamental freedom that could only be encroached
upon if the government had no other means of assuring the achievement of a “compelling state interest.”
But in a case decided by a 5-4 majority, the Court
held that the government does not need much of a
reason to burden the free exercise of religion. That
decision produced a storm of legislative activity
among religious liberty advocates across the nation,
including here in Pennsylvania.
In 2002, PCC prevailed upon the legislature to
pass a law protecting religious freedom. The proposed Religious Freedom Protection Act had strong
bipartisan support from political leaders. In the State
Senate, the Republican President Pro Tem and the
Democratic Minority Leader were the primary sponsors of the bill. In the House of Representatives, the
Republican Majority Whip and Democratic Minority Whip championed the legislation.
The PCC ultimately achieved a legislative victory
with the Religious Freedom Protection Act, which
The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC),
the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic
bishops and the Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. This article
is one of a series highlighting PCC’s interesting
history of Catholic advocacy in Harrisburg. To
learn more about PCC’s 50th anniversary and
other public policy issues, log on to the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference Institute for Public
Policy Web site at www.pacatholic.org.
restored the applicability of the “compelling state
interest” standard to actions by the Pennsylvania
government that placed a burden on religious liberty.
PCC fought to preserve the right of religious liberty when it has been threatened in court actions
as well. PCC counsel successfully intervened in
court cases that sought to impose governmental
supervision of labor relations in church-schools.
Another case attempted to apply laws that would
have outlawed the granting of religious preferences in admissions to church-schools. Yet another
case sought to prevent the application of religious
standards to the conduct of church ministerial employees. PCC has also been successful in aiding
dioceses from being overridden by the civil courts
in critical areas such as the selection of clergy and
the ordering of church property tenure.
New areas of concern are always manifesting
themselves. PCC continually battles to preserve
the rights of conscience of religious health care facilities and personnel in the areas of abortion and
contraception services. Advocates for homosexual
rights have been particularly active in advancing
legislation that would outlaw discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, without regard for the rights of conscience of
churches, church agencies and church members.
PCC is ever mindful of the words of Thomas
Jefferson; but James Madison, another founding
father, in his famous Memorial and Remonstrance,
warns us about the danger of government imposition on religion and the indefensibility of justifying such impositions. He states authoritatively:
[I]t is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. … The freemen of America
did not wait till usurped power had strengthened
itself by exercise, and entangled the question in
precedents. They saw all the consequences in the
principle, and they avoided the consequences by
denying the principle.
(Murren is a partner in the Ball, Murren & Connell law firm, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference legal counsel.)
Tending the “Inner Light” of Those with Alzheimer’s – A Panel Discussion
A Program for Practitioners, Caregivers, Family Members of Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s
Saturday, March 19, 2011
9:45 AM - 3:00 PM
$40.00 offering
Panelists:
Marlane Paruso
Remotivation
and Validation
Presenter
Sister Rosaline
Drab, SS.C.M.
Pastoral
Minister
Lois Landis
Miller
Spiritual
Director
The panelists and prayer leaders presenting this day recognize how much
Alzheimer’s touches not only the persons who live with it, but their families, caregivers,
practitioners, support staff, chaplains, and spiritual directors who do their best to tend
to the “Inner Light” of these loved persons.
The content of this day will include presentations by experienced
panelists on Validation Therapies, Spiritual Care, a Caregiver’s Personal
Experience, and Self-Care for Caregivers. There will be time for reflection
and one-to-one conversations with the presenters and prayer leaders.
Intermittent prayers will weave together the threads of “Praying
from Darkness into Light,” and unite the fabric of the day’s
presentations into a seamless
Prayer Leaders:
garment of Light, Care, and Love.
Sister Jean
Marie, SS.C.M.
Spiritual
Director
Saint Cyril Spiritual Center
Villa Sacred Heart, Danville PA 17821
Joan Liebler
Judith Bayer
Spiritual Directors
Register online at
www.sscm.org or
call 570-275-3581.
Deadline to register:
March 11, 2011
Local Church News
The names of the following deceased
persons have been submitted by their
parishes:
abbOTTSTOWN – Immaculate Heart
of Mary: Mary Altland, John Zill.
berWICK – Immaculate Conception
BVM: Jennie Blanke, Nicholas Episcopo,
Camillo Melchiorre, Jr., Barry Zeares.
bLue rIDGe SuMMIT – St. Rita:
James Princehouse.
CaMP HILL – Good Shepherd: Natalie
Klee, J. Thomas O’Connor.
CHaMberSburG – Corpus Christi:
Theodore J. Foose, Patricia Eunice Gohl,
James Thomas Henry, Douglas Wagner.
COaL TOWNSHIP – Our Lady of
Hope: Sylvia Chapleski, Dolores Demas.
COLuMbIa – St. Peter: Edward J.
MeCHaNICSburG – St. Elizabeth
Ann Seton: Duane Plever; St. Joseph: George
E. Myers, Michael Sabella; St. Katharine
Drexel: Robert Jones.
MIDDLeTOWN – Seven Sorrows
BVM: Stephen J. Markus, John Stoner, Sr.
MOuNT CarMeL – Divine
Redeemer: Mary Vezo.
NeW CuMberLaND – St. Theresa:
Shirley Acri, Edward Bianco.
NeW FreeDOM – St. John the
Baptist: Vincent Bisker, Jane Helfrich,
Dorothy McDuff, Mary Semenik, Sophie
Tracey.
NeW OXFOrD – Immaculate
Conception BVM: Teresa Beard, Marian
Wisner.
Flanagan, Sr., Cleta Gambler, Joan Murray.
PaLMyra – Holy Spirit: Joseph Winter.
CONeWaGO – Sacred Haert: Genevieve
M. Funk, Sarah A. Todt.
rOarING CreeK – Our Lady of
Mercy: Leonard Butela, Fred Whitenight
DaLLaSTOWN – St. Joseph: Lois A.
SeLINSGrOVe – St. Pius X: Maryann
DaNVILLe – St. Joseph: Doris Orr,
SHaMOKIN – Mother Cabrini: Louis
Bartos, John Mazer, Frank Pufnock, Florence
Searls, Mary Vezo.
Anderson, Darryel L. Behrensen.
Louise Reidinger.
eLIZabeTHTOWN – St. Peter:
Manuel Olives, MD.
FaIrFIeLD – Immaculate Conception
BVM: Thelma Johnson.
GeTTySburG – St. Francis Xavier:
Deacon James Sneeringer.
HaNOVer – St. Joseph: Elizabeth Grace
Brigham, James Stover.
Thomas.
SPrING GrOVe – Sacred Heart of
Jesus: Frank DeCello.
STeeLTON – Prince of Peace: Raymond
Hilinski, Adaline T. Intreri.
yOrK – Immaculate Conception BVM:
Sarah Chambers; St. Rose of Lima: Charles
Sabold.
HarrISburG – Cathedral Parish of St.
Patrick: Shirley Wolfe; St. Catherine Labouré:
Raymond Breach, Clement Leo, John Natale.
HerSHey – St. Joan of Arc: Charlotte
Broome, Robert Martin, Dr. F. Patrick
Tierney.
KuLPMONT – Holy Angels: Ceil
Chadwick, Helen Geslock, Helen Kitt, Anna
Politza.
LaNCaSTer – Assumption BVM:; St.
Anne:.
LebaNON – Assumption BVM: Jerome
Arnold, Gerald Hartnett, Mary Meluskey,
Marguerite Pyles, Judith Weirich, Alice Marie
White.
MarySVILLe – Our Lady of Good
Counsel: Anna Scholl.
Father Conrad
Continued from 1
In his years of service to the diocese,
Father Conrad was assistant pastor at
St. Theresa Parish in New Cumberland
(1976-1980) and at St. John Neumann
Parish in Lancaster (1980-1981). He
then served as assistant to the principal
at Bishop McDevitt High School (19811982), and as principal at Lebanon Catholic High School (1982-1986) and Trinity
High School in Camp Hill (1986-1991).
Father Conrad served as parochial vicar
at St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Millersville (1991-1992), and as pastor of Sacred
Heart of Jesus Parish in Cornwall (19921995) and St. Joseph the Worker Parish in
Bonneauville (1995-1998). While serving
at St. Joseph’s, he was also the Catholic
campus minister at Gettysburg College.
Father Conrad returned to St. Philip the
Apostle Parish in 1998 and served as pastor there until the time of his illness.
“Brian was certainly hard working and
very conscientious and caring in his ministry,” said Father Samuel Houser, pastor
Please pray for the following clergy who died
in March during the past 25 years:
Father James Byrne, 1988
Father Joseph Zednowicz, 1989
Deacon William Smith, 1994
Father Stephen Jordan, 1994
Franciscan Father Gerald Kedziora, 2002
Bishop Nicholas C. Dattilo, 2004
Father Robert Grzybowski, OFM Conv., 2007
Deacon J. Leo Dunn, 2007
Abbot John Neitzel, O. Praem, 2008
Father Lawrence Gross, 2009
Father John Greaney, 2009
Pro-Life retreat Planned at St. bernard Parish
The Council of Catholic Women and Knights of Columbus of St. Bernard
Parish in New Bloomfield will host a One-Day Pro-Life Retreat at the parish on
March 12. The day will begin at 8 a.m. with registration, Morning Prayer and
a Mass for Life. Guest speakers include Father Paul Schenck, Director of the
Diocesan Office of Respect Life and founding director of the National Pro-Life
Action Center on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.; Julie Shuyler, Chairwoman of the Religion Department and Respect Life Club Moderator at Lebanon
Catholic School; and John Gordon, Chairman of Teachers Saving Children®
of Pennsylvania and a Middletown Area School District teacher. The cost to attend is $10, which will include a box lunch. Register no later than March 5. To
register for the day, contact Mary Blair at 717-582-7662 or [email protected].
Hour of Contemplative Prayer to be
Held at Dominican Monastery
In celebration of the Lenten season, an hour of contemplative prayer on the
theme “Carrying My Cross with Jesus” will be held March 16 starting at 10:45
a.m. and concluding with Mid-day prayer at 12:10 p.m. at the Monastery of the
Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary, on Lititz Pike in Lancaster.
Participants will be invited to reflect on the words of Jesus, “My God, My
God,” as He carried his cross, and then in turn reflect on their responses to the
crosses in their own lives. The presentation also will draw from the thought of
Blessed Theresa of Calcutta, Blessed Pope John Paul II, St. Theresa of Avila,
Henri Nouwen, and Joseph Cardinal Bernadin. A replica of the Holy Shroud of
Christ will be available to deepen the participants’ experience.
Sister Maria DeMonte, OP, MDiv, will be the presenter. Sister Maria is a Dominican Sister of the Congregation of St. Catherine de’Ricci. Presently she ministers as a spiritual
director, retreat
guide, and leads
contemplative
prayer mornings
at the Dominican Monastery.
Contemplative
harp music will
be provided by
Cass
Jendzurski, a therapeutic
musician and the
founder and director for Songs for
the Journey, a Lancaster-based volunteer organization that provides music at the
bedsides of those passing from life into death. She is a member of the Fraternity
of St. Dominic.
The morning of prayer is open to women and men of all faiths. A free-will offering is requested. Registration is required. To register or for more information,
contact Sister Maria at 717-285-4536, ext. 717, or [email protected].
St. Joan of arc Parish Launches youTube Site
of St. Patrick Parish in York, who knew
Father Conrad from the time the two entered the diocese’s seminarian program in
1968.
As young priests, Father Houser and
Father Conrad served together at St. Theresa Parish in New Cumberland from
1979-1980.
“When we were together there, he put
in a lot of hours. He would spend time
with people, and be there for them in their
time of need,” Father Houser said. “He
was so patient in that regard, in responding to people.”
“He had a calming effect on people,” he
said. “He could listen attentively and patiently, and could offer good direction to
people because of that.”
Father Conrad remained lighthearted
and maintained a sense of humor even in
the daily struggles of living with a terminal illness, Father Houser pointed out.
“He was lighthearted about things, and
was always very kind to those who cared
for him,” he said.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Feb.
18 by Bishop Joseph McFadden at St.
Philip the Apostle Church in Millersville.
St. Joan of Arch Parish recently launched a YouTube site at www.youtube.
com/SJAHershey. The first video program is a seven-part series of videos
from “Scenes from Christmas Eve Mass – St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church
– Hershey, PA.”
Father Philip G. Burger, pastor, was the celebrant of the Mass that is available online. Assisting at Mass were: Father Chukwubikem Okpechi, O.P. and
Deacon Rodrique Mortel, M.D. Beth Palmer, Director of Music Ministry, was
organist. The St. Joan of Arc Parish Choir and Orchestral Ensemble provided
singing and instrumental music. Video recording, editing and computer adaptation was made by Bill Parks.
A variety of Christmas Carols were sung and a variety of instruments were
played during parts of the Christmas Eve Mass in an attractively decorated
church which featured a nativity scene of Christ’s birth. Visit the video site at
www.youtube.com/SJAHershey.
CCW Member Celebrates 90th birthday
Mary Sponseller has been a member of St. Joseph Parish since 1940 and
is still active in many Church projects. In celebration of her 90th birthday
on Feb. 7, Carolyn Sponseller suggested that members of the Parish Council
of Catholic Women do something to honor her mother-in-law. Members responded with a flood of birthday cards and a pink shawl made by a member
of the CCW’s Prayer Shawl Ministry. As the shawl was wrapped around her
shoulders, Mary said she was very touched at being chosen to receive it and
that she felt all the love and prayers that it represented. She added that she’ll
be wearing it each day as she prays her rosary.
Young Church in Action
Come see the Final 8 CYO
Girls and Boys
Basketball Tournament!
Lancaster Catholic High School and
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Friday March 11 – Sunday March 13
Schedule as follows:
Friday March 11 @ Stevens Tech
Girls games starting at 6,7,8,9 PM.
Prepare for
Holy Week
Lenten retreat for boys and Girls
ages 10-18
March 12 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
St. Katharine Drexel Parish,
Mechanicsburg
Friday March 11 @ LCHS
Boys games starting at 6,7,8,9 PM
Saturday March 12 @ LCHS
Games at 9,10,11 AM and Noon.
Games at 3,4,5,6,7,8 PM.
Sunday March 13 @ LCHS
Girls Consolation game at 1.
Girls Championship game at 2:15.
Boys Consolation game at 3:30.
Boys Championship game at 4:45.
You can see the best junior high basketball around.
You can eat some great food in the Dio Diner.
You can buy a great T-shirt ($10 on pre-order, $12 at the tournament).
See logo above. Email [email protected] for details and an order form.
Great entertainment for a great price. $3 for adults, $2 for students.
This year’s theme is “The Battle of Lent, Putting on the Armor of
God”
Speakers will be priests, deacons and religious of the Diocese of
Harrisburg
The retreat is sponsored by St. Joseph Squires and Squirettes of
Mary. Cost is $5 ($3 for Squires/Squirettes)
For more information, or to register by March 6, contact Michael
Yakubick at 717-329-2725 or [email protected].
St. Catherine
of Bologna
1413-1463
Feast Day March 9
As a girl, Catherine de’Vigri was
a maid of honor at the ducal court
in Ferrara, in Italy. Well educated at
court, she joined a group of Franciscan tertiaries who later became
Poor Clare nuns. In 1456, she went
back to Bologna as abbess of a
new convent. From an early age,
she had experienced visions, some
of which she judged to be temptations. But, she effectively led her
convent, while also exploring a
talent for calligraphy and painting
miniatures. Her Bologna convent
still has a breviary she penned and
ornamented, along with some of
her unpublished writings in prose
and verse. (CNS SAINTS)
brOTHer barNabaS aWarD
MuSICaL aDVaNCeMeNT
Joseph Laucks, a senior at York Catholic High
School, was chosen by audition to participate in
the Lower District 7 Pennsylvania Music Educators
Association (PMEA) Region 5 State Band Festival
scheduled for March 24 -26 at North Schuylkill High
School in Ashland.
Laucks was one of only six alto saxophone players chosen from the 15-county region, which encompasses eastern and central portions of Pennsylvania.
Laucks participates in the York Catholic Marching
Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band and Pit Orchestra. In
addition, he plays in the St. Joseph Catholic Church
Youth Band, Red Lion-Felton Band, Unforgettable
Big Band, and the Dockenspeilers German Band.
Laucks currently studies saxophone with Charles
Schumann, and has also previously studied with Alfoster Johnson. He is the son of Samuel and Jeanne
Laucks of Dallastown.
The St. Joseph Columbian Squire Circle 5102,
sponsored by the Knights of Columbus St. Joseph
Council #12788 of Mechanicsburg, has earned the
Brother Barnabas Award for the fraternal year 20092010. The Brother Barnabas Award is an international competitive award bestowed on 25 Circles of the
1,477 Circles worldwide by the Knight’s Supreme
Council in New Haven, Conn. The Brother Barnabas
Award was presented to the Squires by Father Chester Snyder, pastor, following a recent Mass.
The Circle event that won the competition was
working with FertilityCare Practitioners of Holy
Spirit Hospital who are all trained in the Creighton
Model of NFP and held their International Convention in Harrisburg. The Circle’s fundraising helped
make the event a success. From the Squires’ perspective, the true award was at the close of the convention: Squires from Circle 5102 were altar servers for
the Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades.
St. Joseph Circle 5102 is the only circle in the
state of Pennsylvania to receive the award in 2010.
The Squires of St. Joseph Circle 5102 were awarded the Corps d’Elite award for the second consecu-
tive year. The Corps d’Elite award is similar to the
star council award for the Knights of Columbus and
is non-competitive based on fulfilling all Supreme
requirements. The Squires of St/ Joseph Circle 5102
consist of boys and young men between the ages of
10 and 18 and are members of the following parishes:
St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Mechanicsburg, Good Shepherd in Camp Hill and St. Theresa in
New Cumberland.
aNNa DILL GaMbLe/SuSaN
WaGMaN GLaTFeLTer
SCHOLarSHIP
The Catholic Woman’s Club of York is seeking applicants for its annual scholarships. Applicants should
be Catholic girls graduating in 2011 from a York
County high school within the York Deanery. A strong
commitment to the Catholic faith, a good academic record, financial need and the pursuit of a baccalaureate
degree are the qualifications being sought. Application forms are available at your high school guidance
office or by calling CWC Scholarship Chairperson
Mary Anne Burnside at 717-840-7857. The deadline
for completed applications is March 31.
Compiled by Jen Reed
Spiritual Offerings
Mass in the Croatian language will be celebrated Feb. 27 at
12:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace—Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary Church in Steelton. The Croatian Mass for March is scheduled for March 27 at 12:30 p.m.
Mass with prayers for healing will be celebrated at St. Theresa Church in New Cumberland March 1 at 7:30 p.m. by Father
William Forrey. The Mass is sponsored by the Pilgrims of Praise
and Life in the Spirit prayer groups. Call Mary Ann at 717-5647709 for information.
St. Theresa Council of Catholic Women in New Cumberland
will host an Ecumenical World Day of Prayer Service March 4 at 10
a.m. in the parish’s Little Flower Social Hall. The program, “How
Many Loaves Have You?” was written by the women of
Chile. A free-will offering will be taken up for families in need worldwide. Come early and join us as we continue with our monthly First
Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart by attending the 8:45 a.m.
Mass. For information, contact Kathy Kokoski at 717-766-1272.
St. Peter Church in Elizabethtown will host a Mass with
prayers for healing March 7 at 7 p.m. at the new church. Celebrant
will be Father Dwight Schlaline, parochial vicar at St Patrick Parish
in Carlisle. Childcare and transportation available – notify the
church at 717-367-1255.
A pro-life Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Blessed
Sacrament Church in Harrisburg March 12 at 9 a.m. Father Kevin
Thompson, OFM Cap , pastor of St. Francis Of Assisi Parish in
Harrisburg, will be the celebrant.
A Healing Mass in the Spanish language will be celebrated at
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Cornwall March 13 at 3 p.m.
A pro-life Mass in the Extraordinary form (Traditional
Latin) will be celebrated by Father Frank Parrinello, FSSP, at
St. Lawrence Chapel in Harrisburg March 19 at 9 a.m. Following
Mass, Father Parrinello will lead us in prayers in front of Hillcrest
clinic. Breakfast afterward. Everyone is welcome. Contact info@
hbglatinMass.com.
St. Theresa Parish in New Cumberland will conduct a Parish
Mission March 20-22 at 7 p.m. The speaker is Father Leo Patalinghug, Director of Pastoral Field Education at Mount St. Mary’s
Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and an ordained priest for the
Archdiocese of Baltimore. He is the host to his Grace Before Meals
TV show on cable in the Baltimore area. Father Leo’s books and
other items from his Grace Before Meals show will be available
for purchase following the services each evening, and he will be
available to sign anything purchased. For information, email Brian
Wayne at [email protected].
Retreats & Pilgrimages
St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Millersville is holding a
Lent retreat “Change Our Hearts,” March 14. Sessions will be
from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. with lunch; and 6:30-9:30 p.m. with light
snacks. Cost is $8 for the day session and $5 for the evening
session. Contact Christine M. Miller at 717-872-2166 or cmiller@
hbgdiocese.org for information. Register by March 7.
St. Columba Parish’s Travel Committee is planning a trip for
summer 2011 titled “Monuments and Parks” that will run from July
30-Aug. 6. Tour will start in Salt Lake City and feature Jackson,
Cody, Sheridan, Rapid City, and Deadwood, the Grand Teton and
Yellowstone National Parks, a train ride on the Black Hills Central
Railroad and more. Contact Pat Weinhofer at 570-784-2230 or
John Kashi at 570-437-9081 for more information.
Pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes & Barcelona – Join Sister
Mary Anne Bednar, IHM, principal of Bishop McDevitt High School
in Harrisburg, on a 9-day pilgrimage Oct. 17-25, 2011. Mass celebrated daily. Highlights include Fatima, Aljustrel, Balinhos, Nazare,
Alcobaca Monastery, Cathedral of Burgos, Grotto of Massabielle,
Holy Hill, Carcassone, Barcelona and La Sagrada Familia. Cost is
$2,799 for a double. Trip details available at www.bishopmcdevitt.
org or contact Kim Telgarsky of Telgarsky Travel at 717-545-0307.
Education, Enrichment & Support
A free bereavement program will be offered by the Pastoral
Care Department at Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill beginning
March 2 and running every Wednesday through April 6. Call Sister
Margaret Washington at 717-972-4255 or The Pastoral Care
Secretary at 717-763-2118 for registration and information.
The Dauphin Deanery of the National Council of Catholic
Women will present a Morning Day of Prayer March 5 at Holy
Name of Jesus Church in Harrisburg, sponsored by the parish CCW. The day begins with Mass at 8:30 a.m. followed by
breakfast. The speaker will be Dr. David Hall, a former pastor of
the Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church, who converted to the
Catholic Church. Cost is $10 per person.
A reflection morning, “Hildegard, Catherine, Therese: Their
Message for Us Now,” will be held at the St. Cyril Spiritual Center
in Danville March 12 from 9:45 a.m.-noon, presented by Sister
Bernadette Marie, SS.C.M. An offering of $20 is due by the registration deadline of March 4. Call 570-275-3581 or visit www.sscm.
org and click on current events.
St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Mechanicsburg will offer A
Quick Journey through the Bible, part of the Great Adventure Bible
Timeline series. Sessions begin the week of March 13 and end
the week of May 15. Cost of the series is $17. For session times,
information and registration, contact Suzanne Bruzga at 717-6978716 or [email protected].
The Harrisburg Diocesan Guild of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) invites Catholic physicians and healthcare workers to a Lenten morning of reflection March 19 from 9 a.m.-noon
at the Cardinal Keeler Center in Harrisburg. 9 am - noon at the
Cardinal Keeler Center. Speaker is John F. Brehany, Ph.D., S.T.L.
Executive Director and Ethicist, Catholic Medical Association,
and he will speak “Conscience, Healthcare and the CMA.” The
morning includes Mass, confessions, adoration and refreshments.
RSVP to [email protected] or visit www.HarrisburgCMA.com. A free-will offering will be accepted.
A Lenten Day of Prayer will be held at Holy Angels Church
in Kulpmont March 20 at 1:30 p.m. with Father Andrew Stahmer
officiating. Services will conclude with a meal provided by the
Women’s Council. Deadline for meal reservations is March
13. For information or reservations, contact Elaine Jurgill at 570339-5557. This event is sponsored by the Northumberland District
Council of Catholic Women.
St. Joseph Parish in York is providing an internet safety
seminar for all interested persons March 22 from 7-9 p.m. The
seminar will focus on “Supporting a Positive Online Presence” for
children/students. Topics include Facebook, YouTube, and tools
for internet filtering and history, and ways to “unplug.” Information
can be found at http://www.sjy.org/it/safety and attendees should
RSVP by emailing [email protected].
Fish Dinners
The Knights of Columbus of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish
in Mifflintown will serve its annual Lenten Fish Dinners in the
church hall on Fridays from 4-7 p.m. March 4-April 15. All-youcan-eat fried and baked fish, popcorn shrimp, fried clams, French
fries, macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, corn, green beans,
coleslaw, applesauce, rolls, puddings, and desserts. $10 for
adults and $6 for children 6-12.
St. Peter Parish in Columbia, will hold its Lenten Friday Fish
Fry on Fridays March 11-April 15 from 4-6:30 p.m. Fish platters
including baked haddock, oysters, scallops, crab cakes and other
dishes prepared by the women of the parish. Desserts available.
Eat in or take out. Stations of the Cross are held in the Church at
7 p.m.
Our Lady of Hope Parish in Coal Township will host a crab
cake dinner March 11 from 4-6 p.m. in the parish hall. Cost is $8
for adults, $4 for children. Two crab cakes, potatoes, cole slaw,
dinner roll and dessert. Eat in or take out. Tickets available at
the church and at weekend Masses. Donations of baked goods
accepted the day of the dinner.
St. Theresa Knights of Columbus will hold their Lenten Fish
Fry March 11 at St. Theresa School in New Cumberland from 5-8
p.m. All-you-can-eat beer batter cod fillet, baked potato, cole slaw,
roll, coffee is $8 for adults. Children under 12, fish and French
fries in a basket (not all-you-can-eat) is $5. Desserts, beverages
and milkshakes ala-carte. For tickets or information, contact Tony
Miller at 717-938-6645.
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Enola will hold baked fish dinners on March 11 and 18, and April 1 and 8 from 4-7 p.m. in the
parish hall. Eat in or take out. Cost is $9 for adults, $5 for children.
Salad, baked cod, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, dinner roll,
dessert and beverage.
Events & Fund-Raisers
York Catholic High School presents the Spring Musical,
“Willy Wonka,” Feb. 25 at 7 p.m., Feb. 26 at 7 p.m., and Feb. 27
at 2 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $8 for adults,
$6 for senior citizens, and $6 for students and children.
St. Philip the Parish in Millersville is holding a spaghetti dinner Feb. 27 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Cost is $7 for adults and
$4 for children ages 3-12. There will also be a gift basket raffle.
Proceeds benefit the youth and adults going to World Youth
Day. For information, contact Christine Miller at 717-872-2166 or
[email protected].
Resurrection Catholic School will hold a basket bingo Feb.
27 at 2 p.m. in the elementary cafeteria. Doors open at 1 p.m. for
lunch and snacks. Tickets are $18 at the door. All proceeds will be
used to fund children’s field trips.
Trinity High School in Camp Hill will hold its Winter Concert
Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
St. Leo the Great School in Rohrerstown will hold an open
house for prospective families March 3 from 8:30-11 a.m. or 6:308 p.m. Call ahead for the evening session. For updated tuition
information, visit http://www.stleoschool.org/tuition_information.
shtml. For more information, or to schedule a personalized tour,
please call or email us at 717-392-2441 / secretary@stleoschool.
org or 717-394-1742 / [email protected].
The Knights of Columbus of St. Richard Parish in Manheim will conduct their annual spaghetti dinner March 4 from
4:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adult, $4 for children ages 4-10.
Tickets available at the door. For information, call Rosemarie at
717-665-1-2465.
The Saint Anne’s Retirement Community Auxiliary is
sponsoring a Spring Craft Show March 5 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
at St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia. Seasonal
decorations, gift baskets, St. Anne’s Auxiliary Cookbooks and
baked goods. Vendors will sell jewelry, crocheted items, cross
stitch items, candles and antiques. Lunch of hot dogs, barbeque,
vegetable soup, coffee, and cold drinks available.
The Music Under the Dome concert series continues with
an organ performance by Mark A. Cole at St. Lawrence Chapel
March 6 at 4 p.m. A free-will offering will be taken at the door.
St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Annville will host a Shrove
Tuesday Spaghetti Dinner March 8, sponsored by the Council
of Catholic Women. Lunch is served from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and
dinner from 4-7 p.m. Cost is $7.50 for large, $5.25 for small. Meal
includes spaghetti and meatball(s), salad, Italian bread, dessert,
Choice of coffee, tea or orange drink. Bring your own container
for carry-outs.
Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg will host an
8th Grade Parent Information Night March 8 at 7 p.m. There
will be information on the admission process, freshmen course
selection, financial aid and tuition, and an overview of freshmen
spiritual obligations, discipline expectations, guidance information
and sports opportunities. For information, contact Jill Hanes at
717-236-7973, ext. 21, or [email protected].
Trinity High School in Camp Hill will hold freshman registration for the 2011-2012 school year March 8 and 9 from 1-6 p.m.
and by appointment thereafter. Contact the school office at 717761-1116, ext. 111.
Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Marysville will host its
Spring Spaghetti Dinner March 10 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-7
p.m. Dinners cost $6 and include dessert. Children 6 and under
eat free. Take outs available. Our raffle which benefits the Reitzi
Scholarship fund is a hand made-queen size quilt. $2 a chance
or 6 chances for $10. To purchase chances or view the quilt in
advance, stop in any Saturday evening after 4 p.m. Mass in the
social hall. For directions to the church, call 717-957-2662.
Lebanon Catholic School will host a preschool story hour in
the library from 12:30-1:30 p.m. March 10. Stories, games, crafts
and snacks for children 3-4 years of age. Call the school at 717273-3731 to register by March 8.
Delone Catholic High School in McSherrystown will have
placement testing for freshmen entering in the 2011-12 school
year. All incoming ninth graders must take the test on March 12
or April 16 at Delone Catholic. Testing will be conducted from
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Any eighth grader who attends a Catholic school
outside the deanery, a public school, home school or other school
needs to make arrangements to take the test. For information, or
to register, contact Sister Maria Jude, CSJ, at 717-637-5969, ext.
217, or [email protected].
Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in
Middletown is holding its annual Saint Patrick’s Day Dance
March 12 from 8 p.m.-midnight in the school gym. Entertainment
by Class Act featuring Rita. Food, adult beverages, and soda
included in the $25 ticket price. BYOB. For information or tickets,
call 717-944-7494 or 717-944-2340.
St. Francis Xavier Parish in Gettysburg will host its monthly
breakfast March 13 from 7:30-11 a.m. Pancakes, French
toast, apple fritters, eggs, sausage, fruit cup, juices and coffee.
Adults $6, seniors (over 60) and children (6-12) $4, children
under 6 free.
An International Food Festival will be held at Lebanon
Catholic School March 13 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sample foods
from Greece, France, Italy, Puerto Rico, as well as, Slovak and
Mexican dishes. Eat in or take out. Tickets are available in $ 5
booklets. Call 717-273-3731 ext. 322, or visit www.lebanoncatholicschool.org.
Lebanon Catholic School will host an open house for prospective families for grades PreK-12 March 17 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Tour the school, meet administrative staff and discuss curriculum.
Register by calling 717-273-3731, ext. 312. Children who will be
four years old before Sept. 1, 2011, are eligible to enroll in the
preschool program. Children who will be five years old before
Sept. 1, 2011, are eligible to enroll in the kindergarten program.
Lebanon Catholic School will offer a scholarship application
workshop March 17 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Bi-lingual assistance
will be provided for families who have questions on the various scholarship application forms offered by LC. The Bishop
Neumann Scholarship must be postmarked by March 31. The
workshop is free; register by calling 717-273-3731, ext. 312.
Comedians from Comedy Blast, Inc. will perform March 19
at 7:30 p.m. at York Catholic High School. Cost of $35 includes
admission and refreshments. A limited number of reserved tables
are available for $300 (includes 8 tickets). Call 717-846-8871
x51. Only those over 21 will be admitted.
St. Joseph Parish in Hanover is sponsoring a Basket Bingo
March 20 at 2 p.m. Lunch available for purchase. 20 filled
baskets and 20 door prizes. For tickets, call the parish at 717637-5236.
Russ Rentler, award-winning singer/songwriter and multiinstrumentalist will perform at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in
New Holland March 26 at 7 p.m. Rentler is a physician and has
been going to Haiti for the past 15 years to provide medical care
to the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere. All proceeds
from a free-will offering at the concert will benefit Sts. Simon and
Jude Medical Clinic in Port-Au-Prince.
Parishes & Organizations
Mother Cabrini Parish in Shamokin is selling chocolatecovered coconut cream and peanut butter eggs for $.70 each, $4
a dozen and $8 a dozen. Eggs are available at the parish office
Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. or can be ordered by calling
570-648-4512.
Attention all Notre Dame fans: If projects like these interest
you: St. Patrick’s Day Parade float; assisting with homeless
meals/food drives; Habitat For Humanity project; football ticket
exchange program; football game watches; and many other
activities that promote camaraderie and community involvement,
then join the Notre Dame Club of Harrisburg. Call Jack Wright
at 717-732-8562 or download an application www.harrisburg.
undclub.org.
St. Patrick Parish in Carlisle is seeking someone for the
staff position of full-time Director of Music Ministries. Principal
duties include serving as organist for three Masses on weekends,
holy day Masses and other liturgical celebrations, weddings and
funerals, directing and accompanying the Adult Traditional Choir,
parish children’s choir, school choir and handbell choir. Submit
cover letter, resume and references by March 25 to: Saint Patrick
Catholic Church, 152 East Pomfret Street, Carlisle, PA 17013
Attn: Very Reverend William C. Forrey, V. F., Pastor, or e-mail
[email protected].
World and National News
USCCB Official Has Mixed Reaction
to HHS Conscience Rule Revision
By Nancy Frazier O’Brien
Catholic News Service
Although the U.S. bishops’ pro-life
spokeswoman expressed disappointment at the Obama administration’s
partial rescission of a federal regulation protecting the conscience rights
of health care workers, she said there
are “reasons for hope” in the new education and outreach effort announced
by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Deirdre McQuade, assistant director
for policy and communications at the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’
Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, was
commenting Feb. 18 on the final rule
issued earlier that day by HHS to rescind elements of a December 2008
rule on conscience protection. The
2008 rule came down in the final days
of the administration of President
George W. Bush.
“It is very disappointing that the
[Obama] administration has chosen to
eliminate much of the existing regulation on conscience issued in December 2008,” Ms. McQuade said.
“Among other things, the final rule
issued today eliminates important
clarifications that would have helped
in interpreting and enforcing longstanding federal statutes protecting the
conscience rights of health care pro-
viders,” she said. “It also eliminates a
regulatory requirement that recipients
of federal funds certify compliance
with those statutes.
“However, it is welcome news that
the administration says it will take initiatives to increase awareness of the
conscience statutes, work to ensure
compliance with them, and require
that all government grants make clear
that compliance is required,” she added.
In its announcement of the final rule,
HHS officials stressed that the partial
rescission has no effect on existing
laws protecting the conscience rights
of health care providers.
“Strong conscience laws make it
clear that health care providers cannot
be compelled to perform or assist in
an abortion,” the announcement said.
“The rule being issued today builds
on these laws by providing a clear enforcement process.”
HHS said parts of the 2008 regulation had “caused confusion and could
be taken as overly broad.”
The 41-page final rule summarized
and responded to the major themes of
the more than 300,000 comments received by HHS to the proposed rescission.
More than 97,000 individuals and
organizations supported the move to
rescind, with most saying the 2008
rule “unacceptably impacted patient
rights and restricted access to health
care and conflicted with federal law,
state law and other guidelines addressing informed consent,” HHS said.
Nearly 187,000 comments opposed
the proposal to rescind, expressing the
conviction that “health care workers
should not be required to perform procedures that violate their religious or
moral convictions” or that rescission
“would violate the First Amendment
religious freedom rights of providers
or the tenets or the Hippocratic Oath,
and would impact the ethical integrity
of the medical profession.”
“While the department carefully
considered these comments, we do
not specifically address them because
this partial rescission does not alter or
affect the existing federal health care
provider conscience protections,” the
HHS final rule said.
It cited the Church amendment, section 245 of the Public Health Service
Act and the Weldon amendment as
the “federal health care provider conscience protection statutes” that collectively “prohibit recipients of certain federal funds from discriminating
against certain health care providers
based on their refusal to participate
in health care services they find religiously or morally objectionable.”
Both the Church and Weldon amend-
ments, named for former members of
Congress, have to be passed annually
as part of the appropriations bill for
HHS and the departments of Labor
and Education.
In its final rule, HHS expressed concern at the number of comments that
reflected “a lack of understanding that
the statutory protections are in effect
irrespective of department regulations
or the 2008 final rule.”
“The department fully intends to
continue to enforce all the laws it has
been charged with administering,” it
added.
The HHS Office for Civil Rights,
which is charged with enforcing the
existing conscience protection laws
and regulations, will begin a “new
awareness initiative for our grantees
... to ensure they understand the statutory conscience protections and the
enforcement process for those who
believe their rights have been violated,” HHS said.
Ms. McQuade said she hoped the
administration would now “place its
full support behind efforts in Congress
to clarify conscience protections and
make them more secure by endorsing
such initiatives as the Protect Life Act
(H.R. 358), the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 3) and the
Abortion Non-Discrimination Act
(H.R. 361).”
Permanent End to Taxpayer Abortion
Funding Called Long Overdue
By Nancy Frazier O’Brien
The effort to make permanent a ban on federal
funding of abortion is both long overdue and widely
supported by Americans, an official of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told a House subcommittee Feb. 8.
Richard M. Doerflinger, associate director of the
USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, was one
of three witnesses testifying on the No Taxpayer
Funding for Abortion Act, H.R. 3, before the House
Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution.
“H.R. 3 is a well-crafted and reasonable measure
to maintain long-standing and widely supported policies against active government promotion of abortion,” he said. “It consistently applies to all branches
of the federal government the principle that government can encourage childbirth over abortion through
its funding power, and that it should not coerce anyone’s involvement in abortion.”
In his testimony, Mr. Doerflinger cited past surveys showing that the Hyde amendment – attached
to annual Department of Health and Human Services
appropriations bills since 1976 – has “consistently
had the support of the American people,” with many
wrongly assuming that “it is already fully implemented at all levels of our federal government.”
“The fact is that Congress’ policy has been remarkably consistent for decades, but the implementation
of that policy in practice has been piecemeal, confusing and sometimes sadly inadequate,” he said.
Gaps and loopholes have been found that allowed
or could have allowed for the funding of abortions
through the Indian Health Service, state Medicaid
funding to HMOs and Medicare reimbursements for
nonelderly disabled people, he added.
He urged Congress to “finally put a stop to this ungainly mechanism and simply apply the principle of
the Hyde amendment across the federal government
once and for all.”
Also addressing the subcommittee Feb. 8 were
Cathy Cleaver Ruse, senior fellow for legal studies
at the Family Research Council and a former spokeswoman for the USCCB on pro-life issues; and Sara
Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at
George Washington University.
Ms. Ruse said the Hyde amendment represented a
consensus between those who support abortion and
those who oppose it.
“A majority of ‘pro-life’ and ‘pro-choice’ Americans came together in agreement that, whatever their
differences on the underlying question of legality,
the government should not subsidize abortions,” she
said.
“H.R. 3 does not impact in any way the legality of
any abortion, nor does it strengthen or diminish the
arguments on either side of the abortion divide,” Mr.
Ruse added.
But it does respond to President Barack Obama’s
call to “find common ground” on abortion, she said.
“For over three decades, Americans have come
together in what may be the only truly bipartisan
agreement possible: That whatever our differences
on the underlying question of legality, we agree that
the federal government should not subsidize abortions with taxpayer dollars,” Ms. Ruse said. “This is
the common ground on abortion in America. H.R. 3
would make that common ground statutory law.”
Mr. Rosenbaum, who testified that H.R. 3 would
have adverse effects on the tax treatment of health
insurance and health care expenditures, also spoke
at a Feb. 9 hearing on the Protect Life Act before
the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health.
Other witnesses at that hearing were Helen Alvare,
an associate professor at George Mason University
School of Law and Ms. Ruse’s predecessor as the
USCCB pro-life spokeswoman, and Douglas Johnson, director of federal legislation for the National
Right to Life Committee.
The bill on which they were testifying would make
changes in the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act to ensure that there is no federal funding of
abortion and the conscience rights of health providers are protected.
Ms. Alvare focused her remarks on the conscience
protection aspects of the legislation, saying that conscience protection should not be seen as “a zero-sum
game between conscience-driven health care providers and the patients they serve, particularly the most
vulnerable women.”
“The nation can and should both respect conscience-driven health care providers, and deliver to
the most vulnerable Americans the health care their
human dignity requires,” she told the subcommittee.
Those who oppose conscience protections “are
only attempting to force the government and conscience-driven private providers to give them what
the market has steadfastly refused to do,” Ms. Alvare
said. “If opponents of conscience believe this to be
too few abortions, current law leaves them free to
provide more abortion services.”
World and National News
Vatican Officials Express Hopes for Egypt’s Future
The Vatican’s ambassador to Egypt
said he hoped the country’s future
would include greater social justice
and greater freedom for all of the
country’s people.
In an interview with Vatican Radio
Feb. 11, Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald said he hoped the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which is running Egypt, would follow the direction
of constitutional reform and “will also
respond to the other demands of the
population with regard to social justice and with regard to political liberties as well.”
Archbishop Fitzgerald, the Vatican
nuncio in Cairo, said that even before
President Hosni Mubarak resigned
Feb. 11, the Egyptian leader had given
his vice president the task of studying
various articles of the constitution with
a view of amending them in response
to protesters’ demands for greater democracy.
Mubarak’s promises of reform were
not enough for protesters, and he was
forced to hand over power to the military and step down.
As Mubarak left the capital and the
military took over, the nuncio told Vatican Radio, “We are still in an uncertain position, but the people are very
happy – they are rejoicing – and we
hope that this euphoria will produce a
moment of solidarity for the people in
this country.”
The Supreme Council of the Armed
Forces announced Feb. 13 a series of
steps needed for a democratic transition, including the dissolution of
Mubarak’s parliament, a suspension
of the constitution with the promise
of establishing a committee to rewrite
it, and the promise of elections in six
months.
CNS/DYLAN MARTINEZ, REUTERS.
Young people wave flags atop an army vehicle at Tahrir Square in Cairo Feb. 12, a day after the resignation of President
Hosni Mubarak.
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern
Churches, told Vatican Radio Feb. 14
that he hoped the patient commitment
to nonviolence and democracy that
motivated the protesters would continue to inspire changes in Egypt for
the good of all of its citizens, including
the Christian minority.
“These changes could signal situations of difficulty, but they also can
represent seeds of hope for a new situ-
North american Prelates
Get extra assignments
Pope Benedict XVI named U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke and Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet to the council of cardinals and bishops advising
the Vatican Secretariat of State on diplomatic matters, and he named Bishop John C. Wester of Salt
Lake City to the Pontifical Council for Migrants
and Travelers. The appointments were announced
at the Vatican Jan. 29. Cardinal Burke, who heads
the Apostolic Signature, which is the Vatican’s supreme court, and Cardinal Ouellet, prefect of the
Congregation for Bishops, were named to the advisory council along with Cardinal Peter Erdo of
Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, and Cardinal Fortunato Baldelli, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary,
another Vatican court. The council of cardinals and
bishops advises the section for relations with states
of the Vatican Secretariat of State. In other appointments, Pope Benedict named Bishop Wester, former chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on
Migration, to be a member of the pontifical council
that promotes the pastoral care and rights of migrants, refugees, seafarers and others who are far
from home.
Vatican announces Pope
John Paul II Beatification Events
The Vatican released a three-day schedule of
events for the beatification of Pope John Paul II,
and warned against people selling counterfeit
tickets to the beatification liturgy, which is free
and open to all. Pope Benedict XVI will preside
ation,” the cardinal said.
Egypt’s 8 million to 10 million Coptic Orthodox and up to 250,000 Coptic
Catholics have a right to express their
opinions and hopes in the process of
rewriting the nation’s constitutions, he
said.
“I certainly think they should be
listened to, and I also hope that their
opinions will be accepted. I also hope
that in the constitution there are those
fundamental principles that affirm the
over the beatification Mass at 10 a.m. May 1 in St.
Peter’s Square, the Vatican said. Immediately after Mass, the faithful can pray before Pope John
Paul’s mortal remains, which will be set in front of
the main altar in St. Peter’s Basilica. The veneration “will continue until the flow of faithful ends,”
it said.
Distributing the program Feb. 18, Jesuit Father
Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said
the deceased pope’s remains will be in the casket in
which he originally was buried in 2005 and will not
be visible. The casket will be reinterred in the Chapel of St. Sebastian on the main level of St. Peter’s
Basilica in a “private” ceremony, which will occur
only after the large crowds have stopped coming to
pay their respects, Father Lombardi said. The night
before the beatification, a prayer vigil will be held
in the grassy open space that was the ancient Circus
Maximus in Rome, the Vatican said. The morning
after the beatification, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone,
the Vatican secretary of state, will celebrate a Mass
of thanksgiving in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican
said.
U.S. Archbishop James M. Harvey, prefect of the
papal household, which organizes the non-liturgical side of papal events, also issued a statement
Feb. 18 emphasizing the fact that tickets will not be
required to attend the beatification. The archbishop’s statement, distributed in six languages, said
he had been “informed of the existence of unauthorized offers by some tour operators, especially
on the Internet,” claiming that for a fee they could
help people get tickets to papal events, particularly
the beatification Mass. “For the beatification Mass
of Pope John Paul II, as made clear from the outset,
dignity of men and women, the freedom of all and civic coexistence with
respect for others and respect for the
law,” Cardinal Sandri said.
“I really hope the wisdom that the
Egyptians have and that they showed
during the demonstrations, which
were conducted in a peaceful way and
in which they expressed their desire
for change, will enlighten their future
steps,” he said.
no tickets are required,” the statement said. And
for events that require tickets, such as the pope’s
weekly general audience, the tickets “are always
issued free of charge and no person or organization
can request any kind of payment,” it said.
Church Must Offer More
encouragement, Support for
Vocations, Pope Says
Catholics must be more courageous in highlighting and fostering vocations, Pope Benedict XVI
said. “Every Christian community, every member
of the church needs consciously to feel responsibility for promoting vocations,” especially in an era
when God’s voice “seems to be drowned out by
‘other voices’ and his invitation to follow him by
the gift of one’s own life may seem too difficult,”
he said in his message for the World Day of Prayer
for Vocations. Those who experience a clear call
to priestly or consecrated life need encouragement,
support and the possibility of feeling “the warmth
of the whole community as they respond ‘yes’
to God and the church,” he said. The papal message for the day of prayer, which will be observed
May 15, was released Feb. 10 at the Vatican. The
2011 theme is “Proposing Vocations in the Local
Church.” In his message, Pope Benedict said proposing vocations on the local level means “having the courage, through an attentive and suitable
concern for vocations, to point out this challenging
way of following Christ which, because it is so rich
in meaning, is capable of engaging the whole of
one’s life.”
Faith and Life
Bishop Joseph P. McFadden anoints the forehead of a young girl as he administers the sacrament of anointing of the sick at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg Feb.
11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Bishop McFadden Anoints the Sick at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
By Chris Heisey
Soon after Pope John Paul II was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in
1991, he decided to create the World Day
of Prayer for the Sick as a feast day to
coincide with the Feast of Our Lady of
Lourdes, Feb. 11. What the Holy Father
wanted was a “special time of prayer and
sharing, of offering one’s suffering to the
Lord.” And by tying the two feasts to-
gether, Pope John Paul spoke not only to
the loving grace of Christ, but to Mary’s
unfailing love.
One hundred fifty two years ago, it
was Mary who appeared 18 times to the
young peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous
at Lourdes, France, which today is a great
place of pilgrimage for those who suffer
with human sickness and frailty.
On the 19th anniversary of the First
World Day of Prayer for the Sick, Bishop Joseph P. McFadden celebrated Holy
Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, during which he performed the sacrament of anointing of the sick for more
than 40 faithful. Several other priests of
the diocese also assisted in administering
the sacrament, which includes the laying
on of hands followed by the anointing of
the forehead and palms with the oil of the
sick blessed at last year’s Chrism Mass.
In his homily, Bishop McFadden told
those gathered that “It is in this sacrament that the Lord comes to strengthen
us, to comfort us…. Jesus was afraid of
the cross – we tend to forget that. Jesus
had his agony… Jesus took on human nature so he felt what we feel.”
The bishop also spoke to the Gospel
message of John 2:1-1, which recounts
the wedding feast at Cana. “Go and do
whatever he tells you to,” Mary tells the
servants as Christ prepares to turn water
into wine. “That’s good advice for all of
us….,” Bishop McFadden said. “We are
never by ourselves in our suffering.”
Lent Begins
March 9
The observance of Lent this year begins March 9, Ash
Wednesday, which is a day of fast and abstinence for Catholics. On Ash Wednesday, the imposition of ashes on our foreheads replicates an ancient penitential practice and symbolizes
our dependence upon God’s mercy and forgiveness. The three
traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and
almsgiving. The key to fruitful observance of these practices
is to recognize their link to baptismal renewal. We are called
not just to abstain from sin during Lent but to true conversion
of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. For resources
to support your Lenten practices, visit www.usccb.org/lent.

February 25 2011 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg

Transcription

Similar documents

Catholic Community Center

St_Luke - EMC 2016 - St. Luke Catholic High School

Page 1 212 State Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 232

Presenter: Frank Mercadante Executive Director of Cultivation

! Johnette!Benkovic`s!popular!Catholic!women`s!program,!FULL!OF

Former NFL coach and all-pro wide receiver Danny Abramowicz

Parish Mission Series Presented by Fr. Bill McCarthy

December 27, 2015 - St. Joseph Catholic Church Latin Mass Parish

- St Joseph`s, Benalla

January 31, 2016 - St. Mary Manitou Beach Catholic Church