March 5, 2015 - Diocese of Allentown

“The Allentown Diocese in the Year of Our Lord”
VOL. 27, NO. 5
MARCH 5, 2015
Proceeds set a new record
Catholic Charities Gala honors two for serving others in need
By TARA CONNOLLY
Staff writer
A longtime diocesan pastor and a woman religious who
founded a halfway house to help men transition back into
the community were honored March 1 during the Catholic
Charities of the Diocese of Allentown Eighth Annual Gala
at DeSales University, Center Valley.
Despite the snow and
“Our entire diocese
ice, more than 200 supdoes a good job in
attended the dinfulfilling God’s com- porters
ner to recognize Msgr.
mand to take care
John Murphy, pastor of St.
of one another. I
Thomas More, Allentown,
and Sister Virginia Longam honored to be
cope, founder of Stephen’s
in the Diocese of
Place, and help net more
Allentown, where
than $200,000.
people do such a
“The gala was spectacugood job in follar. We held our breaths
for a good part of the aflowing Christ and
ternoon until guests began
showing compasarriving, but in the end we
sion to others.”
were thrilled with the attendance,” said Pamela Russo,
Catholic Charities’ executive director and secretary of the diocesan Secretariat for
Catholic Human Services.
The event’s proceeds set a new record in the history of
the gala by surpassing last year’s record of $170,000.
Msgr. John Murphy, right, accepts his medallion from
Bishop John Barres during the Eighth Annual Catholic Charities Gala. (Photos by John Simitz)
Funds were raised through tickets, sponsors, private
donations, a rose raffle, a pledge appeal and a live auction
for the organization, which provides services to anyone in
need, regardless of faith, within the five-county area of the
Diocese of Allentown. Last year more than 28,000 children, adults, seniors and veterans received services and
Pam Russo, executive director of Catholic Charities
(CC), Diocese of Allentown and secretary of Secretariat for Catholic Human Services, left, presents Sister Virginia Longcope with a medallion recognizing
her ministry with Stephen’s Place, Reading.
assistance.
“The evening’s proceeds will support the programs and
services of Catholic Charities all over the Diocese of Allentown. We are extremely grateful to all of our sponsors,
Please see GALA page 12 }}
Bishop Barres welcomes 96 catechumens at Rite of Election
By TAMI QUIGLEY
Staff writer
“It’s powerful to see Pope Francis’ call
to be missionary disciples … is alive in the
Diocese of Allentown,” said Bishop John
Barres, presiding at the Rite of Election
Feb. 22 at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of
Siena, Allentown.
The afternoon ceremony formally acknowledged the readiness of 96 catechumens – those preparing for the sacraments
of initiation (baptism, confirmation and
Eucharist) – to seek full communion with
the Catholic Church.
The Rite of Election, which is celebrated
annually on the first Sunday of Lent, marks
the beginning of the final phase of preparation for those participating in the Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
The Call to Continuing Conversion was
celebrated in individual parishes. This ceremony is for candidates who have been
baptized in other Christian traditions who
now seek to become members of the Catholic Church, or baptized Catholics who had
Catechumens are called by name during the Rite of Election celebrated by Bishop John Barres Feb. 22 at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.
(Photos by John Simitz)
no instruction in the faith and are now preparing for confirmation and Eucharist.
There are 30 catechumens from the
Berks Deanery, 1 from the Carbon Deanery, 36 from the Lehigh Deanery, 27 from
the Northampton Deanery and 2 from the
Schuylkill Deanery.
There are 255 candi“This rite
dates: 91 from the Berks
is a time
Deanery, 3 from the Carbon Deanery, 87 from the to realize
Lehigh Deanery, 70 from the Lord
the Northampton Deanery
is always
and 4 from the Schuylkill with us
Deanery.
Msgr. Victor Finelli … and to
was master of ceremonies. keep his
The choir of St. Ignatius beautiful,
Loyola, Sinking Spring,
merciful
directed by Sheryl Lanface at
ciano, provided music for
the center
the day’s bilingual celebraof all we
tion, which was followed
by a time for fellowship in do.”
the Parish Activity Center.
Mary Fran Hartigan,
secretary of the diocesan Secretariat for
Catholic Life and Evangelization, welcomed those gathered and presented the
catechumens to the bishop.
Please see RITE page 16 }}
Pope Francis: Don’t let meatless Fridays
be selfish, soulless, seafood splurge
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Real fasting isn’t just restricting food choices, it must also include cleansing
the heart of all selfishness and making room in one’s life for those in need and those who have sinned and
need healing, Pope Francis said.
Faith without concrete acts of charity is not only hypocritical, “it is dead; what good is it?” he said, criticizing those who hide behind a veil of piety while unjustly treating others, such as denying workers fair wages,
a pension and health care.
Being generous toward the church, but selfish and unjust toward others “is a very serious sin: It is using
God to cover up injustice,” he said Feb. 20 during his homily in a morning Mass celebrated in the chapel of
the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he lives.
Please see FRIDAYS page 20 }}
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The A.D. Times
Diocese
Episcopal
appointments
Published biweekly on Thursday by
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at P.O. Box F
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Phone: 610-871-5200, Ext. 264
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Editor
Jill Caravan
Staff Writers
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Tami Quigley
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Marcus Schneck
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Priscilla Tatara
Bishop’s Liaison
Msgr. Alfred Schlert
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March 5, 2015
Bishop of Allentown John Barres has made the following appointments.
Msgr. Alfred Schlert, vicar general, and Kelly Bruce, director of insurance
and real estate, to members, Youth Protection Committee, Pennsylvania Catholic
Conference, effective Feb. 19 for the duration of the committee’s work.
Serra Day at Most Blessed Sacrament March 21
Everyone is invited to join the Serra Clubs of the
Diocese of Allentown in prayer for vocations Saturday, March 21 at Most Blessed Sacrament (MBS),
Bally.
Serra is a nonprofit Catholic organization made up
of laymen and laywomen who pray and work to foster
and promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood
and consecrated religious life. Its name is derived
from Blessed Father Junípero Serra, a Franciscan missionary priest who established many missions in California in the late 1700s through his evangelization.
MBS is the oldest church in the Diocese of Allentown, and the oldest Roman Catholic church in
the original 13 colonies still in continuous use in the
original building.
Originally named St. Paul’s Chapel, the mission
was officially established in 1741.
When it was built Daniel Boone was a child playing at his family home a few miles away.
George Washington wasn’t yet a teen, and by the
time he became our first president, when most towns
didn’t even have a Catholic church, the Krauss brothers were building the organ for St. Paul’s new addition. This organ is still in use today.
The day will begin with Rosary for Vocations at
10:30 a.m., followed by Mass, celebrated by Father
James Bechtel, pastor emeritus of St. Jerome, Tamaqua and a former pastor of MBS.
The tour of the church and grounds, and a catered
luncheon are also included in the $10 offering. Proceeds will go to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary,
Philadelphia.
To register, contact a Serran; John McHale, 610349-8176, jmchale81@yahoo.com; or Steve Hahn,
484-706-3013, stephenchahn@yahoo.com.
For more information, visit websites http://goreadingberks.com/religion/catholicfaith/history/ or http://
www.ncregister.com/site/article/a_landmark_of_early_american_catholicism1/.
Cardinal Brennan High School/Immaculate Heart Academy wooden model
Cardinal Brennan High School and
Immaculate Heart Academy are part
of the legacy of Trinity Academy at the
Father Walter Ciszek Education Center, Shenandoah. As a remembrance of
this legacy, Trinity Academy is selling
wooden Cat’s Meow models (8-by-3.25
inches) of the former school.
Price is $20 per a model. Stop by
the school to pick up your model dur-
ing school hours. A limited number are
available. Proceeds from the sale support Trinity Academy.
For more information, call 570-4623927.
Evening reflection for separated and divorced March 24 or 25
“A Home for the Wounded Heart,” a
Lenten evening of reflection for the separated and divorced, will be offered at two
locations in the Diocese of Allentown.
The first will be Tuesday, March 24
at 7 p.m. at McGlinn Conference Center, 460 St. Bernardine Street at Alvernia
University, Reading.
Presenter will be Father Patrick Lamb,
assistant pastor of St. Catharine of Siena,
Reading.
The second will be Wednesday, March
25 at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Retreat House,
3908 Chipman Road, Easton.
Presenter will be Father George
Winne, chaplain at Lafayette College and
Notre Dame High School, both in Easton.
The events are being sponsored by the
diocesan Office of Marriage and Family
Life Formation and are part of preparations for the World Meeting of Families.
RSVP by Monday, March 23 by e-
mail to mflf@allentowndiocese.org or
call 610-289-8900, ext. 228.
Diocese
March 5, 2015
The A.D. Times
Sister of Christian Charity devotes 65 years to educating children
Editor’s note: This article is part of a
continuing series on religious communities in the Diocese of Allentown, to
commemorate the Year of Consecrated
Life, the weekend of Nov. 29-30, 2014
through Feb. 2, 2016, World Day of
Consecrated Life.
By TARA CONNOLLY
Staff writer
When Charlene Verbetich, 85, was an
infant in 1930, her mother was participating in religious instruction to convert
to Catholicism. Each week her mother
would pass the convent carrying the infant and say a small prayer asking God
to plant the same vocation seed in one of
her children like he did with the kind and
faithful nuns at Sacred Heart, Luzerne.
Those small prayers and the braveness
of a 14-year-old girl to follow her call
are the reasons Sister Charlene Verbetich
became a Sister of Christian Charity and
has been an educator for 65 years.
Sister Charlene, 85, director of the
pre-K program at Our Lady Help of
Christians (OLHC) School, Allentown,
said her parents encouraged her desire to
enter the convent
weeks after she
graduated from
The SCC
eighth grade at
Sacred Heart Elcommunity
ementary School.
arrived in
Her father, a
the diocese
coal miner, who
in 1874 and
was a devout
has staffed
Catholic,
inspired her mothschools,
er to convert to
served as
Catholicism bepastoral ascause of the exsociates and
ample of faith he
directors of
displayed.
“My mother
religious eduthought
he lived
cation, and
his
faith
so beauengaged in
tifully and she
ministries at
wanted to be part
Sacred Heart
of that,” said Sister Charlene.
Hospital.
In an era when
most
children
helped tend to
their siblings, Sister Charlene said neighbors told her parents they were “crazy”
for allowing her to follow her vocation
instead of assisting with the rearing of
her younger eight sisters and one brother.
“My father said if God was truly call-
Sister Charlene Verbetich is surrounded by children in the pre-K program at
Our Lady Help of Christians School. Sister has been an educator for the Sisters of Christian Charity for 65 years. (Photo by John Simitz)
ing me – then it was God’s will and it was
time for me to go and find out,” she said.
In August she set out for the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Christian Charity
in Mendham, N.J. – the same community
of sisters who educated her and her siblings.
“I really adored the sisters and especially the sister who taught me in second
grade. I even told my mother when I was
in second grade that I wanted to be a sister. The second grade sister was so beautiful and kind. My classmates and I were
all devastated when she died of tuberculosis – but I never forgot her,” recalled
Sister Charlene.
According to Sister Charlene, the call
to serve God became stronger when she
would go to the lower grades to pick up
her siblings or help the sisters decorate
classrooms.
“At first I thought sisters were born
that way. I was excited when I realized I
was able to become a nun. When I was in
eighth grade I wrote a letter to the motherhouse, and in August of 1943 – I went
to live with them,” she said.
Living with the sisters did not mean
her education was halted. She obtained
her high school diploma at the convent
high school and discerned her vocation
for two years. During those years she did
not visit home and her parents were able
to visit her twice a year.
“I lived the same kind of life as the sisters. It was a normal kind of discerning
and I was received by the sisters when I
reached 16 years of age,” she said.
She then went on to junior college and
embarked on a teaching career that spans
more than six decades.
Throughout those 65 years – and
counting – she earned a bachelor of science degree in education and English,
as well as a master of science degree
in reading from Marywood University,
Scranton by attending weekend and summer classes.
While obtaining her degrees, she never ceased teaching at elementary schools
like St. Joseph School, Jim Thorpe; St.
John the Baptist School, Pottsville; and
schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, New Jersey and Florida. In addition, she served as principal of six Catholic elementary schools.
Most of her service was spent at Our
Lady Help of Christians, where she led
the school as principal 1989-2005. She
left the post to create a pre-K program for
the school.
“I love the children. I have never been
away from them and I never want to be
away from them,” she said.
In 2005, with the help of private donors, she converted
the basement of the
rectory and created
“I love the
a curriculum for
3-and-4-year-olds.
children. I
The pre-K prohave never
gram commenced
been away
with 10 students
from them
and quickly reached
and I never
maximum capacity
of 24. This year the
want to be
program educates
away from
15 children.
them.”
Along with Sister Charlene, two
other sisters reside
at the convent – Sister Anna Nguyen, an
assistant for the pre-K program at OLHC,
and Sister Mary Julius, a telephone operator at Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown.
The SCC community arrived in the
diocese in 1874 and has staffed schools,
served as pastoral associates and directors of religious education, and engaged
in ministries at Sacred Heart Hospital,
Allentown.
OLHC convent is the last remaining
foundation of the SCC community in the
Allentown Diocese.
About the Sisters of Christian Charity
Name: Sisters of Christian Charity
(SCC), Daughters of the Blessed Virgin
Mary of the Immaculate Conception.
History: Pauline von Mallinckrodt
and three other women joined together
as the first Sisters of Christian Charity
Aug, 21, 1849. Von Mallinckrodt lived
in Germany during the 19th century and
witnessed the injustices and poverty
brought about by the Industrial Revolution. She began serving Christ and the
poor before forming the SCC community.
After the SCC community was established the sisters continued service
in the name of the church by establishing orphanages, kindergartens and regular schools. By 1871 the congregation
numbered 244 sisters and labored in
more than 19 missions.
By December 1874, 80 sisters had
been sent from Germany to establish foundations in the United States:
Wilkes-Barre, Danville, Williamsport,
Mauch Chunk, Honesdale, Nippenose
Valley and Scranton, Pa.; Melrose,
N.Y.; Baltimore, Md.; New Ulm and
Henderson, Minn.; Westphalia, Mich;
and St. Paul, Iowa.
From the congregation’s early beginnings in the United States until today, they have served in Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois,
Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New
Mexico, New York, North Carolina,
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Charism: Their charism is centered
on unconditional love, for each individual person without exception or exclusion. They see the face of Christ in
all and desire to live lives that reflect
God’s own love for humankind. “Our
principal mission is to give witness
to Christ through our consecrated life
lived in community. As an active apostolic congregation, we embrace the
mission entrusted to us by Christ: to go
out to all the world and bring the good
news: love, justice, peace. It is a great
grace that God should permit us to assist in the spread of his kingdom.”
Vows: Vows of chastity, poverty and
obedience are made during the professed life stage of formation and after
fulfilling the prenovitiate, novitiate,
temporary professed stages.
Religious habit or attire: The sisters wear a simple traditional habit. The
veil, a distinct sign of a bride of Christ,
is worn by all the sisters from the day of
their clothing.
The official habit consists of a black
ankle-length dress and scapular with a
white collar. Although the main components of the official habit are black, sisters who serve in nursing homes, infirmaries and food services wear a white
dress and white scapular for practical
reasons. During the warm months of
the year all the sisters wear the white
habit.
Diocesan ministries: Education at
OLHC and telecommunication at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Number of sisters: Diocese of Allentown, 3; United States, 228; as of
2014 there were 481 sisters in Germany,
Italy, United States, Chile, Argentina,
Uruguay, Bolivia and the Philippines.
Motherhouse: Sisters of Christian
Charity, Eastern Province. Mendham,
N.J. and Sisters of Christian Charity,
Western Region, Wilmette, Ill.
Province: Eastern Province, 350
Bernardsville Road, Mendham, N.J.
07945, 973-543-6528, www.scceast.
org. Western Region, 2041 Elmwood
Ave,, Wilmette, Ill., 60091, www.sccwilmette.org.
Diocesan contact: Our Lady Help
of Christians Convent, Allentown, 610433-4915.
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The A.D. Times
Diocese
March 5, 2015
Faithful mark beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday
Msgr. Scheaffer imposes ashes on the forehead of Nathan Skoronski. Ash
Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. It is a season of
penance, reflection and fasting that prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on
Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.
Msgr. Walter Schaeffer, pastor of St. Mary, Kutztown, blesses ashes during
a morning Mass celebrated on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18. (Photos by John
Simitz)
St. Mary parishioners receive ashes.
Msgr. Scheaffer places ashes on the forehead of Valetta Eshbach.
Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the
church, and help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. The ashes are
made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the
previous year.
Diocese
March 5, 2015
The A.D. Times
From India to Wernersville: Father Currie’s Jesuit ministry
Editor’s note: This article is part of a
continuing series on religious communities in the Diocese of Allentown, to
commemorate the Year of Consecrated
Life, the weekend of Nov. 29-30, 2014
through Feb. 2, 2016, World Day of
Consecrated Life.
By TAMI QUIGLEY
Staff writer
The Jesuit Fathers (Society of Jesus,
SJ) Maryland Province have helped staff
the Jesuit Center since its origins in the
1960s; before that, the building served
as the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues from
its opening in 1930. Both names are now
synonymous to neighbors.
Jesuit Father Joseph Currie has been
rector of the center since 2010, after
spending two decades serving in India,
which has left him with faith-filled and
interesting memories.
What remains with him the most
“would have to be the people I’ve encountered along the way, both Jesuits and
non-Jesuits, both young and old.
“The spirit is indeed alive and well
in these folks, and they – with unfolding
needs and events – have inspired and encouraged me.”
A native of
Philadelphia,
A native of
Father
Currie
Philadelphia,
spent more than
Father Currie
20 years in Inspent more
dia, where he
first taught in the
than 20 years
Jesuits’ Loyola
in India,
School in Jamwhere he
shedpur (Bihar),
first taught in
then
studied
the Jesuits’
theology in the
Himalayan footLoyola School
hills of North
in JamshedBengal.
pur (Bihar),
He was orthen studied
dained in India
theology in
in 1968, and
spent the first
the Himala10 years of his
yan foothills
priestly ministry
of North
in socio-pastoral
Bengal.
work in Jamshedpur, while
teaching at the
Jesuit graduate
school in industrial relations and business management, Xavier Institute.
Having earned a master’s degree in
counseling during a year-long leave in
the United States, Father Currie returned
to India to lead workshops in paraprofessional or “barefoot” counseling for
teachers, pastors and managers. As a result of this experience, he wrote a primer
on counseling skills and attitudes, and a
workbook, titled “In the Path of the Barefoot Counselor.”
Since the early 1970s Father Currie
Jesuit Father Joseph Currie has been
rector of the Jesuit Center, Wernersville since 2010. (Photo courtesy Father Currie)
has led at least four directed or conference retreats each year and preached numerous parish renewals. He has written
from this experience in a collection of
retreat and renewal themes titled “Letting
Go … Letting God.”
From 1977 to 1984 Father Currie was
engaged in national formation work in
India, designing a pastoral education
program for Jesuits, seminarians and religious studying theology, complemented
by a supervised pastoral ministry program that provided on-site training for
young professionals.
He wrote a textbook on this work
titled “Shepherds After My Own Heart:
Orientations in Pastoral Education.”
The Jesuits of India increased in numbers to become the largest and youngest
group in the Jesuit world, and therefore
no longer in need of relying on personnel
from abroad, so Father Currie returned to
the United States in 1985 after serving
several years as “tertian instructor” for
Jesuits in South India. Tertianship is the
final stage of Jesuit formation.
“My time in India stretched from
spring 1963 – before JFK’s assassination
– to late fall 1984, after Indira Gandhi’s
assassination. These are easy markers for
my memory, though I had nothing to do
with either,” Father Currie said.
“I was then a young scholastic, a ‘regent,’ teaching in high school between
first studies and philosophy in the United
States, and the immediate preparation
for the priesthood through four years of
study of theology. I did this study, under
mainly Belgian priests trained at Louvain, at St. Mary’s College in Kurseong,
About the Jesuits
Name: Society of Jesus, Maryland Province, S.J.
History: Founder St. Ignatius Loyola, 1540, with Pope Paul III’s “Regimini militantis ecclesiae” in Montmartre, Paris, France; Jesuits first came to North America in
1625; Jesuit community established in Wernersville in 1930.
Charism: Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, a compilation of meditations,
prayers and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius Loyola to help people
deepen their relationship with God.
Vows: Final.
Religious habit or attire: Clericals.
Switch to an online subscription
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at right.
North Bengal, and was ordained a priest
in Jamshedpur, a mission of the Maryland Province of Jesuits, and some four
hours by train from Calcutta.
“I returned to pastoral work and teaching at our Xavier Institute of Industrial
Relations. Jamshedpur was a steel city,
with the reputation of being the Pittsburgh of the East, fed by the coal regions
to the north (Dhanbad) and the iron regions to the west (Chaibasa).
“I also spent the summers giving retreats and other renewal programs across
the country. In 1977 I joined the faculty
at our national theologate (successor
to St. Mary), Vidyajyoti, where I was
charged with developing a program for
the recently ordained. This became the
‘Pastoral Education Program,’ with its
practicum requirement of a Supervised
Pastoral Ministry, and soon I joined the
faculty at DeNobili College, Pune as
well, introducing this program there.”
In 1983 Father Currie was appointed
tertian instructor in South India, “a job
which I took under the condition that an
Indian Jesuit would take over after two
years. It became clear to my discernment
that an Indian Jesuit would be better suited than I to develop the leadership of the
Indian Church in the years to come.
“I believe that this was the right direction, since Indian Jesuits are now the
strongest in numbers and median age of
Jesuits worldwide.”
Back in the United States, Father Currie has worked mostly at Jesuit universities, and mainly in the area of ministry,
but also teaching theology. He briefly
took charge of a Jesuit retreat facility in
Annapolis, Md., after completing several
years at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Father Currie was named dean of campus ministry at Loyola University, New
Orleans, La. in the early 1990s, where he
served until he became director of campus ministry at Fordham University’s
three campuses in New York in 1997.
At Fordham he also taught in its theology department and in its Graduate
School of Religion. He was appointed
associate vice president for mission and
ministry in 2005, a post he held until
2010, when he was appointed rector of
the Jesuit Center in Wernersville.
At the Jesuit Center Father Currie
heads a community of some 20 Jesuits,
half of whom require 24/7 nursing care.
The rest are engaged in pastoral ministry
in the parishes, hospitals and other agencies of Berks County in the Diocese of
Allentown.
Father Currie also supplies sacramental ministry as Catholic chaplain at Alvernia University, Reading.
He works closely with the director of
the center’s spiritual growth program and
its team of Jesuits and lay colleagues,
both women and men.
For more than 40 years this program
has been actively promoting the ministry
of the Spiritual Exercises, not only by directing retreats, but also training retreat
directors who minister throughout the nation and abroad.
“Most recently, thanks to several generous bequests, including one from the
late state senator and good friend of the
center, Michael O’Pake, we have initiated an outreach
effort promoting
the Spiritual Ex“The spirit is
ercises and related
programs aimed
indeed alive
at the burgeoning
and well in
Hispanic populathese folks,
tion of the area,”
and they –
Father
Currie
with unfoldsaid.
The center was
ing needs
formerly called
and events
St. Isaac Jogues
– have
Novitiate and was
inspired and
recently renamed.
encouraged
Its founders, Genevieve and Nichome.”
las Brady, named
it in conjunction
with the canonization of the North American Martyrs
as the building was being completed in
1930.
Father Currie explained when first
the “Juniorate” on the west wing (or Junior Liberal Arts College) was no longer
needed, as most novices then entered
with a college degree, and then the “Novitiate” on the east wing transferred to a
more urban setting, in the post Vatican
II formation plan, the Maryland Province, under the leadership of Jesuit Father George Schemel, began a Spiritual
Growth training center to keep using the
substantial building and grounds of “the
(former) novitiate.”
It now houses four ministries/communities: semi-retired Jesuits still actively
engaged in ministry; elderly and sick
Jesuits missioned to pray for the church
and fellow Jesuit ministries; the Spiritual
Growth Center staffed by women and
men, laity and religious; and a new Hispanic program to respond to the needs of
the area’s Latino population.
Ministries in Diocese of Allentown: Jesuit Center, Wernersville, includes the Jesuit Community, Spiritual Growth Program and Hispanic Outreach Ministries.
Number of Jesuits: Diocese of Allentown, 20; United States, 2310; worldwide,
17,000.
Province headquarters: Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, 8600 LaSalle
Road, Suite 620, Towson, Md., 21286-2014, 443-921-1310, marjesuits@jesuits.org,
www.mdsj.org.
Diocesan contact: Jesuit Center, P.O. Box 223, 501 N. Church Road, Wernersville,
PA 19565-0223, 610-670-3642, jescntsec@jesuitcenter.org or jescntbus@jesuitcenter.org, www.jesuitcenter.org.
E-mail address
Name
Address
Parish
Daytime phone number
Subscriber number (on line immediately above your name printed in the lower
lefthand corner of this issue)
5
6
The A.D. Times
Opinion
The change of heart we all need
The season of Lent is designed to make us fail. If you
are someone who tries to take Lent seriously, chances
are your season goes something like this.
Ash Wednesday comes and you eagerly attend Mass
(even though it is not a holy day of obligation), fast and
abstain from meat. You have decided what you will “do”
for Lent: give up something, spend more time in prayer,
take advantage of opportunities to give alms and attend
Stations of the Cross at your parish every week.
More important, you realize that you ought to use the
season to become a better person. You are determined
that this Lent you will finally conquer that sinful habit
or weakness that you have had for most of your life: that
fault that always makes you feel somewhat hypocritical.
If you could just get rid of it, you would be a much better Christian.
You begin Lent with enthusiasm. You are proud of
your Lenten plans and eager to put them into practice.
At first, it is not only easy but a pleasure to do these
things.... But then, after those first few days of Lent,
things quickly settle into a routine. Before long it becomes more difficult to stay faithful to your Lenten
plans. By about the third week of Lent you start to slip.
The extra prayer time gets a little shorter, you can’t
make Stations of the Cross one week, and whatever you
decided to give up for Lent proves too hard to resist.
(With regard to almsgiving, you do contribute to the Operation Rice Bowl collection every week but, for some
reason, it just doesn’t seem satisfying.)
Worse yet, by about the middle of Lent, you catch
yourself starting to slip back into that fault that you
vowed to conquer. Shame and discouragement start to
set in. You reluctantly plod through the rest of the season. Next year will be better.
If this is your experience of Lent, welcome to reality.
The good news is: if you have a poor Lenten season, it
probably is not entirely your fault. Lent has set you up to
fail. How and why?
As the season begins we hear the call to personal conversion in the sacred Scriptures. Every year the church
reminds us of our obligations in the areas of fasting and
abstinence. We know we are strongly encouraged to
make voluntary sacrifices and practice good works during the season. Perhaps there is even an element of peer
pressure: if you are among people who give something
up for Lent, you would be very uncomfortable not doing
the same.
The problem is that, for most of us, six and a half
weeks is an awfully long time to sustain these practices.
Lent is like a trap: it sets us up to fail.
Why is Lent designed to be so hard that most of us are
unsuccessful? If you attend daily Mass (which, incidentally, is also a good Lenten practice), hopefully you will
notice that the readings for the first few weeks deal with
the call to conversion and various other Lenten themes,
as we would expect.
However, beginning with the fourth week of Lent,
right after the time the season gets hard and we start
to slip, there is a change. From the fourth week on, we
read the Gospel of John in sequence. John’s goal is to
gradually reveal the identity of Jesus Christ throughout
his Gospel. The latter weeks of Lent thus become an invitation to meet Jesus anew and get to know him more
deeply.
This is our hint to explain why we are meant to fail
during Lent. The call to conversion is a key part of the
Christian life. We must make sincere efforts to desire
and actually work toward overcoming sin and growing
in positive ways. The Lenten practices of prayer, fasting
and almsgiving are valuable, and we should make an effort to incorporate them into our daily or weekly routine.
But Lent teaches us an essential lesson that we often
need to hear over and over again: we cannot do it on our
own. We cannot overcome sin on our own. We cannot
grow in virtue on our own. We cannot save ourselves.
We need a Savior. We need Jesus.
Salvation is a free gift of God’s love. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn heaven. If we could
earn salvation by what we do, then why would we need
Jesus? What would be the point of his death and resurrection?
Suppose you do successfully stick to your Lenten
resolutions all the way until Easter. Does that make you
proud of yourself? (Look what I was able to do.) If so,
March 5, 2015
By Father Kevin Bobbin, assistant
pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring.
you completely missed the point of Lent and Easter.
The Lenten season is a time for hearing the call to
conversion and facing the full, unpleasant reality of your
own personal sinfulness, weakness and need for salvation. It is a time for reminding ourselves that our time
in this world is limited and, without God’s free gift of
salvation and our wholehearted response to it, we will
not live beyond this present life.
These are not pleasant realities to face. But we must
face them or we will never appreciate and respond to
the gift of salvation as we absolutely must. As we allow
the devastating truth of our sinfulness and our inability
to save ourselves to sink in, we are reintroduced to our
Savior.
As the Gospel readings in the latter weeks of Lent
illuminate the person of Jesus for us, we are invited to
come to a deeper knowledge of him, a deeper appreciation for him, a deeper awareness of our radical dependence on him so that we will turn to him more radically.
Every Lent should bring Jesus closer to the center of
your life.
We are invited to celebrate Easter, not with a sense of
unworthiness because we haven’t succeeded in becoming perfect during Lent. We celebrate Easter knowing
that it is a free gift of God’s love for each of us. We were
destined for eternal death and we could do absolutely
nothing about it, but God saved us because He loves us.
When we allow the full reality of this divine love and
mercy to hit us, it will gradually cause the change of
heart we all need. We will experience greater freedom
from our sinfulness and growth in virtue.
Too often we get it backwards. A life of faith does not
earn heaven for you. A life of faith is a free response to
the gift of heaven that Jesus already won for us.
But to respond to this gift, we must realize what a gift
it is. To do this, we need to realize how much we need
this gift. Here is where a Lent full of failure and discouragement can be a great blessing.
March 5, 2015
Diocese
The A.D. Times
Our Lenten obligation
Nuestra obligación de Cuaresma
Church law considers every Friday and the season of Lent as penitential days
and times. The practice of penance is a part of our faith and Christian life. When
we do penance, we imitate Jesus, who himself recommended it as necessary to
his followers, and gave them the example of his prayer and fasting.
The Lenten obligation, as determined for Catholics in the United States by
our bishops, requires that fasting be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good
Friday. The law of abstinence is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and all the
Fridays of Lent.
La ley eclesiástica considera todos los viernes y el tiempo de Cuaresma como los días y
tiempo de penitencia. La práctica de la penitencia es una parte de nuestra fe y vida cristiana.
Cuando hacemos penitencia, imitamos a Jesús, Él mismo recomendó como necesario para
sus seguidores y les dio el ejemplo de su oración y ayuno.
La obligación de Cuaresma, según lo determinado por los católicos en los Estados Unidos
por nuestros obispos, requiere que se observe el ayuno el miércoles de Ceniza y el Viernes
Santo. La ley de la abstinencia se observa el miércoles de Ceniza y todos los viernes de
Cuaresma.
Who must fast?
All Catholics who are between the ages of 18 and 59. The obligation ceases
when one begins his/her 60th year on his/her 59th birthday.
¿Quién debe ayunar?
Todos los católicos que están entre las edades de 18 y 59. La obligación cesa cuando se
haya cumplido los 59 años.
Who must abstain?
All Catholics who are 14 years and older.
¿Quién debe abstenerse?
Todos los católicos que tienen 14 años y mayores.
What does fasting mean?
The observance of fasting means that those obliged may take only one full
meal on the day of fast. Two lighter meals (not equal to another full meal) may
be taken to maintain strength according to one’s needs.
¿Qué significa el ayuno?
La observancia del ayuno significa que los obligados pueden tomar sólo una comida completa en el día de ayuno. Dos comidas más ligeras (Que no igualen a una comida completa)
pueden tomarse para mantener la fuerza de acuerdo a las necesidades de uno.
What does abstinence mean?
The law of abstinence forbids the eating of meat, including poultry. Voluntary abstinence refers to refraining from lawful pleasures in a spirit of penance.
¿Qué significa la abstinencia?
La ley de la abstinencia prohíbe el consumo de carne, incluidas las aves de corral. Abstinencia voluntaria se refiere a abstenerse de los placeres lícitos en un espíritu de penitencia.
Can anyone be dispensed or excused from fast and/or abstinence?
Individuals for a just cause may be dispensed by their pastor or by a priest
with the faculty to do so. In our diocese all priests may dispense individuals who
are committed to their pastoral care. Those who are ill or have a similar serious
reason are excused from the observance of fast and abstinence. Catholics are
reminded that they should not lightly excuse themselves from this obligation.
¿Puede alguien ser dispensado o excusado de ayunar y/o la abstinencia?
Los individuos de una causa justa pueden ser dispensados por su párroco o un sacerdote
con facultad para hacerlo. En nuestra diócesis todos los sacerdotes pueden dispensar las
personas que están comprometidos con su cuidado pastoral. Los que están enfermos o tienen
una razón similar seria están excusados de la observancia del ayuno y la abstinencia. Se les
recuerda a los católicos que no deben excusarse a sí mismos de esta obligación.
Are there other obligations we should fulfill?
Catholics are obliged to fulfill what has been called their “Easter Duty.”
They are required to receive Holy Communion during the Easter time. In the
United States this obligation can be fulfilled from the First Sunday of Lent until
Trinity Sunday (Feb. 22 until May 31, 2015). Those conscious of serious sin
are reminded of the obligation to confess their sins at least once a year during
this time.
Catholics also are encouraged to make Lent a time of more intense prayer
and to practice almsgiving and other works of charity. Parishes are encouraged
to continue participation in Operation Rice Bowl.
¿Existen otras obligaciones que debemos cumplir?
Los católicos están obligados a cumplir con lo que se ha llamado su «deber de Pascua.»
Ellos están obligados a recibir la Sagrada Comunión durante el tiempo de Pascua. En los Estados Unidos esta obligación puede ser cumplida a partir del Primer Domingo de Cuaresma
hasta el Domingo de Trinidad (22 de febrero hasta el 31 de mayo 2015). Los que tienen conciencia de pecado grave se les recuerda de la obligación de confesar sus pecados al menos
una vez al año durante este tiempo.
También se les anima a los católicos a hacer de la Cuaresma un tiempo de oración más
intensa y de practicar la limosna y otras obras de caridad. Se anima a las parroquias a continuar su participación en la Operación Plato de Arroz.
7
8
The A.D. Times
Diocese
March 5, 2015
Commission for Women brings ‘Women Speak for Themselves’ to diocese
With the 2016 presidential election on
the horizon, the pundits and politicians
will once again turn their attention to
what women voters seek in a candidate.
Inevitably, the discussion in Washington
will include the assumption that women
are a homogenous herd motivated only
by promises of free contraceptives and
unrestricted abortion.
Meanwhile, here in the Diocese of Allentown, the Commission for Women is
pairing with a grass roots organization
aptly named “Women Speak for Themselves” to send the message that they
don’t speak for all women.
Founded in 2012 in response to the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate that requires all
nonexempt employers to provide contraceptive and abortion services to their employees, “Women Speak for Themselves”
has evolved from a petition-signing effort
to a national movement that seeks to raise
awareness and organize volunteers to
protect the right of religious liberty.
Women from all walks of life, professions, vocations, political stripes and
religious
affiliations
are coming
“Women Speak
together to
for Themselves”
push back
has evolved from
against the
a simple petitide of retion-signing efligious oppression that
fort to a national
has engulfed
movement that
Wa s h i n g seeks to raise
ton in recent
awareness and
years.
organize volunThe Allentown Diteers to protect
ocese’s own
the right of reliCommission
gious liberty.
for Women
was
also
mobilized
to act on behalf of religious freedom in
response to the enactment of the HHS
mandate.
During the “Let Freedom Ring” observance for religious liberty organized
by Bishop John Barres in July 2012,
Plan for WWME
Weekend April 10-12
Put the spark back into your marriage
by making a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend, April 10-12 at the Hilton Garden Inn Allentown West.
Just one weekend away can change
your marriage for the better, forever.
WWME is the original faith-based marriage enrichment experience that improves couple communication while focusing on your relationship.
The weekend starts Friday evening
and ends Sunday at 4 p.m. Couples meet
as a group to hear presentations related to
the topic of marriage. After each presentation they are given a question to discuss
by themselves.
It is a private weekend with no group
sharing. Each couple has their own room
for private discussions.
For over 45 years married couples
have gained a greater insight and have
reached new levels of intimacy in their
relationships through WWME.
Marriage Encounter is open to all married couples in a good marriage. Although
this is a Catholic weekend, couples from
other faith expressions are welcome to attend.
To sign up, call 732-904-9636 or visit
website www.aweekendforyourmarriage.
org. For more info about Worldwide Marriage Encounter, visit www.wwme.org.
the commission collected thousands of
signed letters from parishes throughout
the diocese and delivered them to members of the Pennsylvania and U.S. Congress, letting them know that attacks on
religious freedom would not be tolerated.
“These teachings are not just beliefs
that can be easily discarded as they are
core beliefs about the nature of God and
humanity,” said Dale Verchick, chair-
woman of the Commission for Women.
“The federal government has no business trying to tell religious organizations
how to interpret their own religions.”
This common thread of empowerment
of women in the context of the fight for
religious liberty runs throughout the mission of both organizations.
“There is a very large part of the population of women in this country who un-
derstand that women need to be respected
as women, because we were created thus
to flourish – physically, mentally, emotionally and most important spiritually,”
Verchick added.
While many organizations shift their
resources to working on the national level once they have grown, “Women Speak
for Themselves” encourages participants
to focus locally.
Women from all over America have
done what they believe is the most important and effective in their communities to
advance the cause. This aligns with the
Commission for Women, which exists as
an advisory board to the bishop of Allentown to bring to light women’s issues in
the diocese and beyond.
In that spirit, the commission has embraced this initiative through the use of
local action with national results, such
as participating in the March for Life in
Reading on Sunday, April 26, and in the
near future will initiate a letter-writing
campaign to elected officials from women throughout the diocese.
Also in the works for 2016 is a Women’s Conference – co-hosted by the Commission for Women and the diocesan
Secretariat for Catholic Life and Evangelization – that will carry forward the
spiritual mission.
The Commission for Women is proud
to bring this initiative into the Diocese of
Allentown so that all women will have
the opportunity to be heard.
As one enthusiastic member of the
commission put it, “When I look on our
world, I am sometimes exasperated at its
state. But I am confident that one woman at her kitchen counter, one woman
[speaking to a neighbor] in her garden,
one woman everywhere, has kept the
battle raging. ‘Women Speak for Themselves’ is taking it to the streets. It’s about
time.”
To get involved with the “Women
Speak for Themselves” initiative, visit
www.womenspeakforthemselves.com.
To get involved right here in the Diocese of Allentown, e-mail Christine Favocci, treasurer of the commission, cfavocci@rcn.com.
March 5, 2015
Youth & Young Adults
The A.D. Times
‘Upon This Rock’ explores both sides of the confessional
By TARA CONNOLLY
Staff writer
Until eight months ago the penitent
side of the confessional was the only
place Father Mark Searles sat seeking
forgiveness. After his ordination last June
he has become familiar with the priest
side of the confessional, where he regularly comes face to face with the power
of God’s love.
Father Searles, assistant pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus, Allentown, shared
reflections about the Sacrament of Reconciliation Feb. 20 during “Upon This
Rock,” a young adult speaker series, at
the Newman Center, Lehigh University,
Bethlehem.
While presenting “Forgive Me Father:
The Other Side of the Confessional,” he
recalled his first confession, preparing to
hear confessions and his experience in
extending God’s mercy and forgiveness
to others.
Recounting his first reconciliation,
Father Searles vividly remembered waiting in a long line
with other second
grade
students
Even though
while
another
most people
line was moving
would
quickly.
perceive
“It was a big
the role of
deal. Teachers had
drilled the act of
listening
contrition into my
to sin as
head – but now it
depressing
was time to say it
and burdenon my own. It was
some, Faterrifying. Then
the line wasn’t
ther Searles
moving and I
stressed the
couldn’t help but
role is the
think what was
exact oppotaking that kid so
site.
long,” he said.
Moments later,
panic set in and
his eyes began to well up with tears.
“I forgot all my sins that I had memorized all week and I kind of lost it,” he
said.
Fortunately, a nun of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
swooped in and rescued him from the
line.
“She assured me that I would be fine.
She was right. I was greeted by a kind
priest. It was over in a flash and I felt
great. The worst part was learning that
my twin sister held it together better than
I did,” said Father Searles.
As the years went on, he acknowledged still feeling “butterflies” before entering the confessional, and admitted to
being vague about some sins and mixing
mortal sins with venial sins to minimize
Above, Father Mark Searles presents “Forgive Me
Father: The Other Side of
the Confessional” to young
adults at the Newman Center at Lehigh University.
(Photos by John Simitz)
Right, Father Searles talks
about the Sacrament of
Reconciliation during the
young adult speaker series
“Upon This Rock.”
Below, Father Jason Buck,
a priest of the Archdiocese
of Philadelphia, chats before the talk with, from left,
Katie Searles, Rachael
Holland and Colleen Searles.
them.
“It is OK to be afraid and nervous.
But grace and God’s mercy always perseveres,” he said.
“The priest is not there to harshly
judge. He is there to be an instrument of
Above, young adults listen during the young adult speaker series at Lehigh
University.
God’s mercy,” said Father Searles.
He told the young adults not to let
pride prevent them from stepping into the
confessional and assured them that the
sacrament will make them whole.
“Confession is not a place to impress.
It is a place to take burdens away. Confession is where the desire to impress
goes to die,” said Father Searles.
Before being ordained to the priesthood, Father Searles said, he and his
classmates had to practice hearing confessions and offering responses.
Often the confes“Confession
sor was a profesis not a place
sor or a priest.
“It was probto impress. It
ably the hardis a place to
est class. They
take burwould
pretend
dens away.
to be all kinds
Confession
of people, like a
grandfather who
is where the
is hard of heardesire to
ing, a small child
impress goes
or a single pregto die.”
nant woman,” he
said.
Even though
most people would perceive the role of
listening to sin as depressing and burdensome, Father Searles stressed the role is
the exact opposite.
“There is no better place to be. As a
priest, to be with a beautiful soul who
made their way back to God – is a time
to rejoice. The grace of God at work is
an awesome thing to witness. It is powerful – no matter the circumstances or what
a person brings to the confessional,” he
said.
“Watching sin vanish is truly an amazing thing,” he said
Father Searles also said the other side
of the confessional allows him see another Soul as God sees him/her.
“The cross is in action and I can see
the light starting to come back until it is
piercing through,” he said.
He urged the young adults who have
not returned to confession because of a
bad experience or severity of sin to give it
another try and offer everything.
“God already knows what you did,”
said Father Searles.
“Vagueness does sound nicer, but
those things only hurt us. Surrender to
the sacred heart of Jesus and move away
from pride. Pride is very dangerous,” he
said.
“I have learned on both sides of the
screen as a confessor and a priest. A beautiful confessor does not hold anything
back,” said Father Searles.
He said the sacrament is often taken
for granted and noted that many people
do not have the opportunity to receive the
sacrament.
“We pay professionals thousands of
dollars to relieve our burdens. And we as
Catholic have this great gift to surrender
sin – and it is free,” said Father Searles.
A group of young adults enjoy grilled cheese, tomato soup and other refreshments during the talk.
9
10
The A.D. Times
Youth & Young Adults
March 5, 2015
‘Family Fully Alive’ event will bring the family to life
“Faith Alive: The Family Fully Alive”
is getting ready to bring the family to life
Sunday, March 22 at four different locations throughout the Diocese of Allentown.
Families of all ages are invited to enjoy a day of faith, food and fun as the gift
of family is celebrated throughout the
diocese in unison. The event will include
guest speakers, prayer, activities, and a
family meal.
The events are co-hosted by the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult
Ministry (OYYAM) and the Office of
Marriage and Family Life Formation
(OMFLF) in preparation for the World
Meeting of Families in September.
Four locations will host the event on
the same day so as many families as possible can participate:
Berks Deanery – St. Catharine of Siena, 4975 Boyertown Pike, Reading, 6 to
8 p.m.
Carbon-Schuylkill Deaneries – St.
John XXIII, 266 Broad St., Tamaqua, 4
to 6 p.m.
Lehigh Deanery – St. Joseph the
Worker, 1879 Applewood Drive, Orefield, 4 to 6 p.m.
Northampton Deanery – Holy Family,
The Diocese of Allentown is placing increased
emphasis on:
Hispanic Ministry and
Evangelization: new regional coordinators have
been appointed.
Youth and Young Adult Ministry:
Regional youth events are held in all
five counties throughout the year.
Marriage Preparation has been
revamped to help the diocese work
with couples to strengthen the institution of marriage in our society.
410 W. Center St., Nazareth, 6 to 8 p.m.
“This event, offered in four locations,
provides families in our diocese an opportunity to come together this Lent and
learn more about what it means to be a
family that is fully alive,” said OMFLF
Director Robert Olney.
This idea ties into a comment made by
Archbishop Chaput of the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia, explaining the purpose of
the World Meeting of Families. Chaput
stated, “The purpose is simple but vital:
to help people deepen their Christian understanding and experience of family life.
If the family is the foundation of society,
and of course it is, then strengthening
family life is the surest guarantee of a
healthy culture.”
Each site will include a family-friendly, interactive presentation by a religious
sister whose message will highlight what
the church teaches about the family and
what it means for the family to be fully
alive.
Speakers will be:
Sister, Servant of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary (IHM) Sister Mary Ann
Spaetti, principal of Trinity Academy at
the Father Walter Ciszek Education Center, Shenandoah at St. Catharine.
Missionary Sister of the Most Sacred
Heart of Jesus (MSC) Sister Lisa Valentini, coordinator of mission appeals for
the MSC sisters, at St. John XXIII.
Franciscan Sister Martha Zammatore,
liaison with the diocesan Office of Prison
Ministry, at St. Joseph the Worker.
IHM Sister Mary Margaret Rose, principal of Queen of Angels School, Willow
Grove, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, at
Holy Family.
“On this day, the Diocese of Allentown will celebrate the fact that as ‘adopted sons and daughters of God, we all
have the same God as Father (Galatians
4:6-7)’ and thus are one big family,” said
OYYAM Director Sue Matour.
Busy lives to be discussed at
March 26 ‘Upon This Rock’
Having trouble fitting faith into your
daily life?
“Busier Than Thou: Finding God in
a Culture of Commitments” will be the
topic of the next “Upon This Rock,” a
young adult speaker series sponsored by
the diocesan Office of Youth and Young
Adult Ministry.
The event will be Thursday, March 26
from 6 to 8 p.m. in the St. Christopher
Catholic Newman Center at Kutztown
University, 15207 Kutztown Road, Kutztown.
All young adults ages 18 to 35 are
welcome.
Father Patrick Lamb, assistant pastor
of St. Catharine of Siena, Reading, will
discuss how to balance spirituality with a
busy schedule.
The event is free of charge, young
adults are invited to come and bring a
friend.
For more information, visit www.
allentowndiocese.org/oyyam or e-mail
Alexa Doncsecz, adoncsecz@allentowndiocese.org.
“This event initially began as a way to
celebrate the importance and significance
of a shared meal as a family. Through
prayer and discussions guided by the
Holy Spirit, we created four unique but
similar events, in an effort to gather as
many families as possible to recognize
and celebrate the family.”
Attendees will get to participate in activities designed to bring them together as
a family, as well as unite them in solidarity with other families from their deanery.
Families will learn to make palm crosses,
as well as participate in a Gospel narrative complete with costumes, props, and
an interactive script that encourages audience participation.
“Our strongest inclinations toward
the faith begin with what is rooted in our
family life. We look to how our relatives
lived out their faith and how they instilled
it in us as children. In that sense faith and
family are deeply intertwined, so it is important that we take the time to celebrate
family in this way,” said OYYAM Assistant Coordinator Alexa Doncsecz.
“The Family Fully Alive” will be an
event where families can come together
to laugh and share quality time, all while
experiencing the role of family within the
Catholic Church.
OMFLF Assistant Coordinator Allen Zelno emphasizes that this event is
intended for families of all shapes and
sizes.
“Unique to this offering, every member of a family is welcome to experience
faith, fun and fellowship together. We are
encouraging families of single or married
persons, with young children, older children, or no children, grandparents, cousins and family friends,” Zelno said.
A family meal – including pasta, salad
and bread – will be served, allowing families to share mealtime together.
The event will begin and end with
prayer, emphasizing the role of faith
within the home and Christ as the center
of the domestic church.
The theme for the World Meeting of
Families borrows from these words of St.
Irenaeus, “The glory of God is man fully
alive.”
“We are all called to love as God loves,
in a complete and self-giving way. One of
the best examples we have of that selfless and fruitful love is through the gift
of marriage and family,” said Bishop of
Allentown John Barres.
“The family is at the heart of society,
as well as the church, and when lived out
to its fullest as God intended, we learn
what it is to be human, to be true children
of God.”
If you are interested in helping with
the events in any capacity, either in preparation or on the day of the event, contact
Matour, smatour@allentowndiocese.org,
or Doncsecz, adoncsecz@allentowndiocese.org.
The event is $10 per family and registration materials are available at www.
allentowndiocese.org/FaithAlive. Registration deadline is Wednesday, March 11.
“As disciples on a journey, families
will be strengthened in their mission to
be a beacon of Christ’s love and likeness
in our culture,” said Olney.
Diocese
March 5, 2015
The A.D. Times
Islands of mercy
By SR. MEG COLE
Lent can be a time of recollection and
assessment of how we are in relationship
with God. These 40 days offer an opportunity not only to
spend extra time
with God, but also
There will
be a Rachel’s to assist us in being aware of those
Vineyard
occasions when we
Retreat the
live in a spirit of
weekend
holiness.
Reflections from
of Friday,
Scripture,
spiriMarch 20
tual books, poetry,
through Sun- prayers and writday, March
ings – both tra22. For more ditional and contemporary – can
informaenrich our lives as
tion or to
well and how we
register:
are with others.
confidential
One such contemvoicemail
porary reflection
has been given by
1-866-3-RaPope Francis as he
chel or 610expresses his sen332-0442,
timents to all of us
ext. 19, or
with his message
e-mail Sister for Lent 2015.
“Dear Brothers
Meg Cole,
and Sisters, Lent
mcole@alis a time of renewlentowndioal for the whole
cese.org.
church, for each
community and every believer. Above
all it is a ‘time of grace’ (2 Corinthians
6:2). God does not ask of us anything
that he himself has not first given us. ‘We
love because he first has loved us’ (1 John
4:19).
“He is not aloof from us. Each one of
us has a place in his heart. He knows us
by name, he cares for us and he seeks us
out whenever we turn away from him. He
is interested in each of us; his love does
not allow him to be indifferent to what
happens to us….
“Dear brothers and sisters, how greatly I desire that all those places where the
church is present, especially our parishes
and our communities, may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea
of indifference” (http://www.zenit.org/
en/articles/pope-francis-lenten-message-2015).
The pope’s desire for an “island of
mercy” is available in the unique experience of a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat
(RVR). The Diocese of Allentown offers
this retreat for men and women who have
experienced the very painful decision of
an abortion.
The Catholic Church is not indifferent
to the ongoing emotional, spiritual and
psychological pain that individuals attempt to manage after going through an
abortion. Those who have found themselves in a situation that prompts a very
impulsive, time-sensitive decision may,
at a later time, hold within their hearts,
great regret.
Days after the actual very serious
medical procedure, the man and woman
can have relief that what seemed an immense problem has now been resolved.
However, as time progresses, there can
be anger, resentment and conflict that enters what was once a loving relationship.
As individuals, there can be profound remorse that goes unexpressed, as abortion
is a deep wound.
Although there can be many issues
that were given as the reason for the abortion, none seem justifiable once the mother and father begin to miss their aborted
child.
At the time of the crisis pregnancy, a
‘Faith and Spirits
Series’ in Allentown
March 9 and April 13
The “Faith and Spirits Series” sponsored by the diocesan Office of Adult
Formation is coming to the Lehigh Valley for two upcoming evenings, Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. at Allentown Brew
Works, 812 Hamilton St., Allentown.
The series is an informal discussion on
faith topics for adults in a relaxed atmosphere.
“A Biblical Worldview: Needed Answers in a Cultural Shift Toward Indifference” will be the topic Monday, March
9. Presenter will be Msgr. Andrew Baker,
pastor of the Cathedral of St. Catharine of
Siena, Allentown.
The evening will be an engaging discussion on the biblical worldview vs.
the modern culture. We all have a lens
by which we view the world around us.
Which lens are you looking through?
Part two, “Who Am I to Judge: The
Balance Between the Truth and the
Embrace,” will be Monday, April 13.
Presenter will be Father Thomas Dailey
of DeSales University, Center Valley.
Participants will explore the challenges of how to live out the faith in the modern world. How do we love others who
are living contrary to faith and still hold
to the truth of Catholic teaching?
Food and beverage are available for
purchase from the menu. Bring a friend
or come yourself. All adults are welcome.
For more information, e-mail adultformation@allentowndiocese.org or call 610289-8900 ext. 221.
“sea of indifference” may have been part
of the planning around the abortion. But
such indifference yields to hurt and an
internal injury that can often find no consolation.
However, great comfort and resolution
can be found in the holy weekend that is
known as Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat. At
this retreat, the gathering of men and
women who share a unique loss, the loss
of a child from abortion can bring before
God their hurt and confusion.
Through prayer and reflection, this
weekend moves the participants to a place
of forgiveness and healing. There are moments of meeting the Lord that will instill
in the heart of the participant that God
does not reject them, even though they
may now feel rejected by God for having
rejected the gift of a child and becoming
a parent. God knows this double loss has
troubled the participant in the depths of
their being.
The foundation of this weekend is a
strong belief, always voiced by one of its
founders, Father Blair Raum, “there is no
sin greater than God’s mercy.”
So “Come As You Are,” as the
song says (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=BCXcL3xoy3o), as a mother
who mourns the loss of her child, and
missed motherhood, and you, as a father
who grieves the loss of a child and the
gift of fatherhood, are most welcome to
join others for a weekend that will be an
experience of an “island of mercy” Friday, March 20 through Sunday, March
22.
Please call the confidential voicemail to learn more about the weekend,
1-866-3 Rachel or 610.332.0442, ext.
19. Or e-mail Sister Meg Cole, mcole@
allentowndiocese.org. For more information about Project Rachel, watch
this video at https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=jMcHwbfo3BM.
11
12
The A.D. Times
Diocese
Gala
}}Continued from page 1
volunteers, attendees and supporters who
helped make the gala a tremendous success,” said Russo.
In his remarks, Bishop Barres shared social media “tweets” from Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “The Joy of the Gospel.”
Some of the Holy Father’s tweets he reiterated were:
“God’s word is unpredictable in its power.”
“An evangelizing community boldly
takes the initiative, goes out to others, seeks
those who have fallen away, stands at the
crossroads and welcomes the outcast.”
“An evangelizing community is supportive, standing by people at every step of the
way, no matter how difficult or lengthy this
may prove to be.”
“These tweets express the spirit of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Allentown,
the spirit of our board of directors and staff,
the spirit of our honorees, Msgr. John Murphy and Sister Virginia Longcope, and the
spirit of all of you here tonight who support
the work of Catholic Charities with such
dedication,” said Bishop Barres.
The evening also featured the reading
of a personal heartfelt letter (see text next
page) from a couple in tribute to Msgr. Murphy and a video describing programs and
services provided by the organization. View
the video at http://www.allentowndiocese.
org/catholic-charities/.
Msgr. John Murphy
After receiving his medallion, Msgr.
Murphy reflected on meeting Pope John
Paul II in April 1981. He said he was surprised when the vibrant pontiff mentioned
Allentown to him.
“I was shocked. He told me ‘you do a
great job in Allentown,’” said Msgr. Murphy.
Even though Msgr. Murphy later discovered that the pontiff probably read his tag
identifying him and the diocese, he said
those words from Blessed John Paul II still
ring true.
“I don’t do it by myself. We all do a good
job. Our entire diocese does a good job in
fulfilling God’s command to take care of
one another. I am honored to be in the diocese of Allentown, where people do such a
good job in following Christ and showing
compassion to others,” said Msgr. Murphy.
Msgr. Murphy, who was ordained March
7, 1964, served 11 years as assistant pastor and five years as pastor of Immaculate
Conception BVM, Allentown. Since 1980
Monsignor has been the beloved pastor of
St. Thomas More.
In addition, he has served as Lehigh
County regional CYO director, diocesan
CYO director and diocesan director of the
Pontifical Society for Propagation of the
Faith.
Msgr. Murphy served as a member of the
Council of Priests, the Committee for Vocations, the Vocations and Priestly Formation
Committee, the Commission for Orders and
Ministries, and the Diocesan College of
Consultors.
March 5, 2015
Catholic Charities services
Adoption
Adult Day Care
Community Support Services
Emergency Food
Ecumenical Kitchen
Housing Services
Immigration Services
Individual and Family Counseling
Older Adult Services
Pregnancy Support
Refugee Services
Veteran Services
Left, George and Patricia Hudimac arrive at the gala,
“Caring for Our Communities.”
The event’s proceeds set a new record in the
history of the gala by surpassing last year’s
record of $170,000.
Supporters of CC enjoy the gala at DeSales University, Center Valley.
He has also held numerous other positions, including chaplain of the diocesan
chapter of Legatus; advisor to the Catholic
Physicians Guild; board member of Mercy
Special Learning Center, Allentown; and
president of the Lehigh County Conference
of Churches.
Sister Virginia Longcope
Sister Virginia Longcope always dreamt
of opening a house for men leaving prison
with a history of drug abuse since meeting
a young man, “Stephen,” at the South Carolina Department of Correction.
When the 20-year-old man was eligible
for parole Sister Virginia helped him find a
place to live and guided him on the task of
transitioning back into society, with no family support, no furniture in his apartment
and no transportation.
“His desire to move forward soon became clouded with feelings of hopelessness,
depression and the inability to cope with the
pressures of daily living,” said Sister.
In the midst of this struggle, Sister Vir-
ginia said Stephen inspired and encouraged
her to establish a house for men facing the
same dilemmas after prison release.
Her hard work became a reality in 1993,
when Stephen’s Place, Bethlehem opened
its doors under the belief that men coming
out of prison should have a safe, spiritual
environment to address early recovery issues from substance abuse, as well as develop personal life skills.
“Stephen’s Place provides a spiritual environment being sensitive to the religious
beliefs of all its residents. We emphasize the
fact that they need God in their life in order
to change,” said Sister Virginia.
“This award is very heart-warming,” she
said.
“But it is equally heart-warming for me
Please see GALA page 15 }}
Letter about Msgr. Murphy
Chairpersons and diocesan officials meeting at the gala are, from left: Stephen and Sabina Olenchock, gala chairpersons; Bishop John Barres; Pam
Russo; and Paul and Patty Huck, gala chairpersons.
Supporters attending the gala are from, left: Marsha and Bill Proehl; Pete and Stacy
Gray; Bishop Barres; Bill and Kathy Schneider; and Pam Russo.
Grateful for Stephen’s Place
Had Sister Virginia not followed through with her mission to establish Stephen’s
Place, Peter Wilda, 28, said he doesn’t know if he would have ever gotten back on
his feet.
Wilda encountered Sister Virginia at Lehigh County Prison, Allentown while he
was serving a sentence for driving under the influence.
Addicted to narcotics, Wilda said, he befriended Sister Virginia while attending
one of her therapeutic groups.
“She showed a DVD about Stephen’s Place and I was very intrigued,” said Wilda.
When he completed his sentence in September 2012, he said Sister Virginia picked
him up at the prison and took him to Stephen’s Place, where he resided for seven
months and learned how to become independent.
“I had a lot of short-term and long-term goals. She helped me obtain a job and sat
down and did a budget with me. I met my short-term goals of obtaining a job, being
able to pay rent and getting a cell phone,” he said.
Wilda’s long-term goals were to move from Stephen’s Place, secure better employment, get his daughter back into his life and marry his girlfriend.
“Sister Virginia was very insightful. She has heard it all and experienced a lot. She
has seen so much bad and it hasn’t hardened her,” said Wilda.
After working with Sister Virginia, Wilda has re-established his relationship with
his 5-year-old daughter, is gainfully employed as a utility line worker and married his
girlfriend. The couple, who reside in an apartment adjacent to Stephen’s Place, is saving and working toward purchasing their first home.
“One of the biggest facets of addiction is the tendency to become dependent on
others for addicts to meet their needs,” said Wilda.
“Stephen’s Place truly helped me to stand on my own. I feel a sense of accomplishment and I learned how to be a productive member of society,” he said.
“Sister Virginia is a blessing. My entire family is grateful to her.”
13
Above, Sister Virginia, center, greets Tim Munsch
and Mary Breidinger, chairpersons of Stephen’s
Place, Bethlehem.
Left, Gia Ambrosino, left, and Sam Dinardo, Allentown Central Catholic High School (ACCHS)
students, sell flowers for the Rose Raffle.
Below, Bishop Barres, center, Russo to his right,
and Father Kevin Gualano, chaplain at Bethlehem Catholic High School (Becahi), meet ACCHS
and Becahi students who served as greeters at
the gala.
My wife and I were married July 23, 1988 in Doylestown, Pa. We moved to Allentown, which was centrally located for
both our jobs. In fall 1988 we joined St. Thomas More Parish and attended Mass on a regular basis.
In 1991 Msgr. John Murphy gave a homily on how precious is the gift from God to receive and raise children. This homily
had a great impact on my wife and me as we had been trying to conceive for over 2½ years. Between the two of us, we had
a particular issue that made it unlikely that we would ever have children.
We had begun the process of adoption in October 1991, when Monsignor had given this particular homily.
That day I phoned Msgr. Murphy and asked if he would come for coffee. He did, and we asked Monsignor why God would
not grant us the same gift so many others had received.
Monsignor replied, “I will ask you both to do two things. Number one, say a prayer with me right now,” which we did,
“and number two, I would like the two of you to attend my retreat in March of 1992.”
As he walked to the door, Msgr. Murphy turned to us and said. “I have been a priest for 27 years, and have never failed at
this. Someday you will call me and say, ‘Stop the prayers.’”
In January 1992 we found out that our adoption had gone through. It was a girl, and we were told she would arrive in May
of that year. The next month, three baby showers were thrown and we received plenty of girl’s clothes. We painted the room
pink in anticipation of our little “Olivia.”
In March 1992 we attended the retreat weekend sponsored by Msgr. Murphy. In late April, just before our adopted child
was to arrive, we learned that my wife was seven weeks pregnant.
We wanted both, but our adoption agency had told us that Korea law does not allow adoption if the wife is pregnant or has
a child 3 years or younger in the home. We were saddened by the news, but also joyful that my wife would be giving birth
sometime in late November or early December.
We decided not to find out the gender until birth. While we knew either would be great, we were leaning toward a daughter
since we had the room painted pink and had plenty of girl’s clothes. On Nov. 30, 1992 our son Brady Joseph O’Donnell was
born.
Msgr. Murphy called us one week later to congratulate us and ask a favor. Monsignor wanted to borrow our son for the
Christmas Eve re-enactment of the birth of Christ. On Christmas Eve 1992, my wife and I stood in the balcony of St. Thomas
More and cried as the lights dimmed, the song “Silent Night” played, and they carried our “Precious Gift From God” down
the aisle and to the altar.
Two years later my wife gave birth to our second son, Griffin, and in 1996 we had our third son Jake.
On July 20, 2000 the elevator doors at Lehigh Valley Hospital opened and out stepped Msgr. Murphy. I explained that we
were going to see the newest member of our family, our fourth son, Gavin.
Monsignor looked at me and simply asked, “Would you like me to stop the prayers now.” I smiled and said “Yes.”
Today our oldest, Brady, will be graduating from Temple University, Philadelphia in May. Our second son, Griffin is a
sophomore at Temple. Jake will be graduating from Allentown Central Catholic high school in June, and Gavin will be a
freshman there in the fall of this year.
We never used that pink room, but God works in mysterious ways, and he has blessed us with the greatest and most precious gift God could ever grant us – four boys.
On March 1 you will honor Msgr. John Murphy for his works as a priest. I am confident that my four boys are on this earth
because of the intersession and prayers of Monsignor, and I am positive that my four boys join a larger family that works this
earth today because of Msgr. Murphy.
Congratulations and May God Bless Msgr. Murphy.
Joe and Page O’Donnell
Center Valley
14
The A.D. Times
Diocese
March 5, 2015
St. Jane, Easton celebrates the family
During the Christmas season we celebrate God’s ultimate gift of his son to the
world, and the family unit in which Christ
grew up.
St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton
remembers the feast of the Holy Family
in a special way. On Dec. 28 at the noon
Mass the intentions included thanksgiving for the new lives in 2014, with a blanket blessing for attending children.
This was followed by a reception
hosted by St. Jane’s Moms and Tots, and
Respect Life organizations.
Robert Olney, coordinator of the diocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life
Formation, provided information about
diocesan services available, including
Marriage and Family Encounter.
Opportunities to pray for the strength-
ening of our human family through public prayer and Helpers of God’s Precious
Infants were also provided. Relics of St.
Gianna, patron saint of physicians, mothers and children, as well as patron of this
year’s World Meeting of Families, were
available.
Enjoy a new year with blessings on
every family. The upcoming World Meeting of Families held this September in
Philadelphia, reminds us that God so
loved families that he brought his son to
us through the loving efforts of the family of Our Blessed Mother, Mary and St.
Joseph.
May the Holy Family continue to be
the model for our families providing us
with their blessings throughout the New
Year.
Some of the people representing organizations at the Celebrate the Family
Reception at St. Jane, Easton are, from left: Mary Ann Pohl, Pennsylvanians
for Human Life; Mary Vigilanti, 40 Days for Life and Helpers of God’s Precious
Infants; and Maureen Aviles, America Needs Fatima.
Above, participating in the day are, from left, Frank and Sally Bellarmino, and
Barb and Lou Carcich of Marriage and Family Encounter.
Right, Robert Bob Olney, coordinator of the diocesan Office of Marriage and
Family Life Formation, share information about diocesan services for married
couples and families.
Death
Father William O’Donnell, pastor emeritus
Father William
O’Donnell, 86, pastor emeritus of Holy
Family, New Philadelphia, died Feb.
20 at Holy Family
Manor, Bethlehem.
A
native
of
Bethlehem, Father
O’Donnell was the
son of the late Urban
and Marcella (McFadden) O’Donnell.
He attended Holy Infancy School,
Bethlehem and Bethlehem Catholic High
School, and studied for the priesthood at
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia.
He was ordained to the priesthood
May 10, 1952 by Archbishop John
O’Hara at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and
Paul, Philadelphia.
His first priestly assignment was assistant pastor, St. Joseph, Girardville,
followed by St. Vincent de Paul, Minersville and St. Jane Frances de Chantal,
Easton. He also served as chaplain, U.S.
Air Force.
His first pastoral assignment was at St.
Peter the Apostle, Reading, and administrator, St. Anthony of Padua, Reading,
followed by pastor of the former Holy
Family, New Philadelphia, of which he
was named pastor emeritus upon his retirement.
During the course of his priestly ministry, Father O’Donnell also served as a
member of the advisory board for Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville.
Surviving are sisters, Sister of St. Joseph, Saint Urban, Flourtown; Kathleen
O’Donnell, Bethlehem; and Theresa,
wife of Stephen Donchez, Bethlehem;
and a cousin, Msgr. William O’Donnell,
Warminster.
He was preceded in death by brothers
Joseph, Urban, James, Anthony, John,
Michael, Thomas and Francis; sisters
Mary, Patricia, Lucy and Marcella Sharkan.
Mass of Christian Burial for Father
O’Donnell was celebrated Feb. 25 at
Holy Infancy, Bethlehem by Bishop of
Allentown John Barres.
Homilist
was
Msgr.
William
O’Donnell, pastor emeritus, Nativity of
Our Lord Church, Warminster.
Main concelebrants were Msgr. Alfred Schlert, vicar general; Msgr. Gerald
Gobitas, secretary for clergy, chancellor,
and rector, Holy Family Villa for Priests,
Bethlehem; Msgr. Robert Biszek, pastor,
Holy Infancy; and Msgr. O’Donnell.
Interment took place at Holy Savior
Cemetery, Bethlehem.
Upcoming issues of The A.D. Times
Issue Date
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March 19
March 9
March 12
April 2March 23March 26
April 16April 6April 9
Diocese
March 5, 2015
Gala
}}Continued from page 13
to hear residents speak openly about their
faith in God and how they turn to him for
help and also in thanksgiving.”
Sister Virginia made her first profession in 1959 for the Congregation of the
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus, Reading.
She received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Villanova University. For 22 years she taught
in various elementary schools in the diocese and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Sister Virginia received a master’s degree in religious studies from St. Charles
Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia and
completed a clinical pastoral education
The A.D. Times
program at a maximum security prison in
Columbia, S.C.
Sister received her master’s degree in
social work from the University of South
Carolina and was employed as a social
worker at Palmer Work Release Center in
Florence, S.C.
In 1992 Sister Virginia returned to the
Lehigh Valley to start the process of establishing a house for men leaving prison
with a history of substance abuse. During
that process she was employed by Catholic Social Agency as a contract counselor.
In April 1993 Sister Virginia’s dream
became a reality. The house, called Stephen’s Place, was incorporated as a nonprofit program.
In May 2005 Sister Virginia received
an honorary doctorate from DeSales University. In 2013 she became a licensed
social worker.
Mary Elaine and Bob Ford, seated, chat with Mary Louise Padolick, (Msgr.
Murphy’s sister) and her son, Joseph Padolick.
Catholic Charities’ supporters bid on prizes during the evening’s live auction.
Dinner guests view a video depicting some of CC services and clients they
serve. View the video at http://www.allentowndiocese.org/catholic-charities/.
Above, Teri Bishop, left, and Ray Bishop, right, congratulate Msgr. Murphy and
Sister Virginia for emulating the mission of Catholic Charities.
Right, a student volunteer clears the sidewalk that was blanketed with snow
for gala guests.
Catch March Madness on diocesan website www.allentowndiocese.org
Catch March Madness during next week’s NCAA tournament with the Bishop’s
Video Blog. From the basketball court at Princeton University, Bishop Barres interviews Allentown Central Catholic High School graduate Gabe Llewellis, who talks
about Catholic education and playing at Rockne Hall – homepage.
Pray the rosary with Bishop Barres – homepage.
World Meeting of Families – homepage.
Welcome to inactive Catholics – homepage.
The New Evangelization – homepage.
Register for Marriage Prep Classes – www.allentowndiocese.org/catholic-life/fam-
ily-life/marriage-preparation/.
January School Notes – www.allentowndiocese.org/school-notes.
Bishop’s Annual Appeal – www.2014baa.org.
2015 Catholic Charities Gala video – www.allentowndiocese.org/catholic-charities/.
Father Ciszek page/documentary video – www.allentowndiocese.org/father-ciszek.
Hispanic events page – www.allentowndiocese.org/hispanic-events.
Transfer Grants page – www.allentowndiocese.org/catholic-education/transfergrants.
15
16
The A.D. Times
Diocese
March 5, 2015
Rite
}}Continued from page 1
Bishop Barres welcomed the catechumens, their pastors, priests, immediate
family members and members of their
parish family to the ceremony.
In his homily, Bishop Barres reflected
we had just celebrated Ash Wednesday
that week, and that “sense of repentance
and facing our mortality with a spirit of
hope” continued on the first Sunday of
Lent.
Bishop Barres noted in the day’s Gospel, Mark 1:12-15, the Holy Spirit drives
Jesus into the wilderness where he is
tempted by Satan. This is followed by the
Lord’s baptism in the Jordan. “The two
go together so beautifully.”
“Our Lord comes to us precisely at the
moment of our most difficult temptation
with compassion and strength.”
Bishop Barres said Pope Benedict
XVI said in every dimension of temptation is the temptation to take Christ from
our center and sideline him.
The bishop said we’re all so busy
monitoring our iPhones and dealing with
stresses with finances or friends and family that “it’s very easy for the Lord to fade
into the sunset of our lives without us realizing it.
“This rite is a time to realize the Lord
is always with us … and to keep his beautiful, merciful face at the center of all we
do.”
Bishop Barres said things such as
power and possessions “result in a vacuum in the human heart that pulls us away
from the Gospel. But when we put Christ
Catechumen Helga Lefur of St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield signs the Book of
Elect as godparent Betty MacDougall watches.
in the center, all falls into place.”
Alluding to Christ being tempted in
the desert, Bishop Barres said we must
“open ourselves to the burning silence of
the desert. When we burn with silence we
burn with God – and the spirit of evangelization.
“Our Lord experienced temptation as
we do. With his power we can overcome
temptation. Embrace Christ during our
most violent temptations of life and it’s
amazing how we feel his power.”
Catechumens listen to instructions prior to the rite.
Bishop Barres said as the Holy Spirit
drove Jesus into the wilderness, the Holy
Spirit drives us from patterns of pride to
a new spirit of humility, and from a spirit
of anger to a new spirit of meekness and
consistent gentleness.
The spirit also drives us from a spirit
of enslaving lust to a new living of the
beatitudes – “blessed are the pure of
heart,” the bishop said. The spirit drives
us from a spirit of envy to a new sincerity and charity, especially to those who
oppose us.
“The Holy Spirit drives us from a spirit of gluttony – including not just food
but all dimensions
of social media to
the point where we
The Rite of
don’t have faceElection,
to-face conversawhich is
tions – to a beauticelebrated
ful, new temperate
annually
balance,” Bishop
Barres said.
on the first
The spirit guides
Sunday of
us, too, from a spirLent, marks
it of greed and conthe beginsumerism to breakning of the
ing through global
indifference. And
final phase
the spirit drives
of prepaus from a spirit
ration for
of lukewarmness
those parand laziness “to a
ticipating
new
enthusiasm
for our faith in the
in the Rite
true spirit of being
of Christian
a missionary in the
Initiation
st
21 century world,”
of Adults
Bishop Barres said.
(RCIA).
The bishop said
Lent 2015 is a special time as we prepare for the World Meeting of Families
in Philadelphia and the appearance there
of Pope Francis in September. Bishop
Barres spoke of the beauty of marriage
being between one man and one woman,
as well as marital fidelity, adding, “Couples need to recommit themselves to it
every day.”
Bishop Barres asked the faithful to
Please see RITE page 17 }}
Franciscan Sister Martha Zammatore translates instructions into Spanish.
Catholic Church gives catechumen Tyler Solley a ‘platform to build my life on’
“It’s always been there in me, I was a
spiritual kind of kid. But I needed a foundation, a direction,” said catechumen Tyler Solley of St. Jane Frances de Chantal,
Easton.
And now, as Solley approaches his
30th birthday in March, he’s found it as
he prepares for full communion in the
Catholic Church.
Solley said he wasn’t raised with religion; though Solley knew God, he wasn’t
predominant in his life. “My grandfather
is born again, and was always in my ear
about the Bible and God.”
“I went through a period of my life
searching for something greater than myself,” Solley said, noting he read many
philosophy books.
Six years ago Solley met his future
wife, the former Allison Rankis, and the
two were married in August 2014 at St.
Jane. “Allison is a graduate of Bethlehem
Catholic High School, and the Catholic
faith is a big part of her life.”
Solley said though he always had a
yearning for God, “meeting my wife was
a big part of my decision.”
Solley struggled with the Catholic
faith, and the differences between it and
those of the born-again Christian faith of
his grandfather. “I’m a big history buff
and wanted to go back to the source,
whre it started.”
In the beginning, no one was walking
around with a Bible, Solley recalled. “It
was word of mouth and tradition. How
the martyrs died moved me – their strong
faith inspired me to come to church.”
Solley said a big part of his decision
was rooted in where it all started – with
St. Peter and the apostles. He was also
struck by the rich history of the Catholic
Church, including Michelangelo’s great
artwork in the Sistine Chapel.
“I’m a traditional person and felt I
needed that in my life.”
Solley was also motivated by watching the “Catholicism” DVD series by FaThe Eucharist had a profound impact
on catechumen Tyler Solley. “It hit me
as we pray, ‘Give us this day our daily
bread.’ It’s literally the body and blood
of Christ.”
ther Robert Barron.
Solley noted he visited Rome when he
was 22 and saw Pope Benedict XVI from
a distance. It wasn’t a religious experience, but rather part of his adventure of
traveling in Europe to countries including
Italy, Germany and Spain.
Solley said he had gone to church
“here and there,” but in the Catholic
Church he’s “found the platform to build
my life on. It’s my truth,” he said, adding
he now also better understands Mary, the
Blessed Mother.
The Eucharist had a profound impact
on Solley. “It hit me as we pray, ‘Give us
this day our daily bread.’ It’s literally the
body and blood of Christ.”
“You’re spiritually and physically in
communion with God.”
Solley also finds it fascinating that
“Mass is the same whether you’re in Texas or New Jersey.”
Solley, who is going back to school,
works with adolescents at a drug and alcohol rehab facility, as well as in his family business of car washes.
Diocese
March 5, 2015
The A.D. Times
17
Rite
}}Continued from page 16
pray that “families be instruments of evangelization” as St. Pope John Paul
II called them to be.
The bishop closed his
homily assuring catechumens of his prayers as they
prepare for the sacraments
of initiation, and extended
thanks to their families and
parish families.
After the homily the
catechumens received affirmation of God’s call in
their lives from Bishop
Barres during the Rite of
Election. The catechumens
responded to the bishop’s
call to Jesus by expressing
their desire for the sacraments and inscribing their
names in the Book of the
Elect.
Next Bishop Barres declared them “elect” and
committed to the sacraments of the church to be
received at the Easter Vigil.
They will be baptized, confirmed and receive Holy
Eucharist.
“The Holy Spirit
drives us from a
spirit of gluttony – including not just food
but all dimensions
of social media to
the point where we
don’t have face-toface conversations
– to a beautiful,
new temperate balance,” Bishop John
Barres says in his
homily.
Godparent Jose Yepez, right, lays his hand on the
shoulder of catechumen Johan Corona of St. Paul,
Reading as he prepares to sign the Book of Elect.
Right, catechumen Wanda Arroyo of St. Paul,
Reading signs the Book
of Elect under the guidance of her godparent
Espranza
Gonzalez.
Mary Fran Hartigan is
seated at right.
Catechumen Daniel Kimmel of Lehigh University, Bethlehem places his name
in the Book of Elect as godparent Ron Koach of the Newman Center at Lehigh
watches.
Catechumen Laura Lee Warren of Holy Trinity, Whitehall signs the Book of
Elect as godparent Wilma Laroche looks on during the afternoon liturgy.
Above, catechumen Tyler Solley of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton expresses his desire to become a member of the church with his signature in the
Book of Elect as godparent Gary Coryell watches.
Left, Bishop John Barres, center, greets Lehigh University catechumens and
their godparents with Ron Koach, third from right, and Father Allen Hoffa,
Catholic chaplain at Lehigh University and chaplain at Allentown Central Catholic High School.
18
The A.D. Times
Diocese
Calendar
Editor’s note: E-mail, fax or mail church-affiliated
items for the Calendar page (Calendar, Retreats, Socials,
Festivals, Bazaars, Trips) to: e-mail, adtimes@allentowndiocese.org; fax, 610-439-7694; The A.D. Times, P.O. Box F,
Allentown, PA 18105-1538.
Items must be received by Thursday of the week before
publication.
Please type or print. Please notify The A.D. Times if
bingos and other regularly listed events are cancelled for
the summer or other holiday periods, and again when they
resume.
The A.D. Times publishes only newly announced, churchaffiliated trips on a regular basis. The entire previously
announced repeating trip list is published only as space
permits. Please notify The A.D. Times when seats are filled
for a trip so it can be removed from the repeating list.
Sundays
Breakfast, parish center cafeteria, St. Michael the Archangel,
Minersville, 7 a.m.-noon, $7.
Interpreted Mass, for the hearing impaired, St. Columbkill,
Boyertown, 9 a.m.
Latin Mass, St. Stephen of Hungary, Allentown, 10:15 a.m.
Children’s Prayer Group, for children of any age, Perpetual
Adoration Chapel, St. Patrick, Pottsville, 5 p.m.
Holy Hour for Our Families, Our Priests, and Our Country,
Adoration Chapel, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, 7 p.m.
First Sundays
Divine Mercy Liturgical Service, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta,
600 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City, 3 p.m., confessions before liturgy, Anointing of the Sick after liturgy and benediction.
First and third Sundays
Interpreted Mass, for the hearing impaired, Our Lady of
Perpetual Help, Bethlehem, 9 a.m.
Second Sundays
Breakfast, St. Elizabeth, Whitehall, 8:30-11:30 a.m., adults
$6, children $3, 610-266-0695, Oct. 12 to April 12.
Youth Mass, students in PREP and Catholic schools asked
to participate as lectors, greeters, ushers, etc., St. Francis of
Assisi, Allentown, 10:30 a.m.
Third Sundays
Breakfast, St. Joseph, Summit Hill, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., adults
$8, children 7-11 $4, under 7 free, no breakfast July or December.
Catholic Singles of Allentown Reflection and Fellowship,
Finnegan Room, Assumption BVM, Bethlehem, 3-4:30 p.m.,
followed by dinner at restaurant of choice, cslv@me.com, 610797-1970.
Fourth Sundays
Breakfast, Assumption BVM, Northampton, 8:30 a.m.-noon,
adults $7, children $3, 610-262-2559.
Last Sunday
Breakfast, St. Stephen of Hungary, Allentown, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Mondays
Eucharistic Adoration, chapel, St. Catharine of Siena, Reading, after 8 a.m. Mass until 9 p.m., 610-779-4005.
Scripture Classes, directed by Father Dennet Jung, St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Monday Afternoon Bible Study, Coll Room, Assumption BVM,
Bethlehem, 1-2:30 p.m., 610-867-7424, ext. 12, join anytime.
Scripture Class with Father Paul Marconi, Barnabite Spiritual
Center, Bethlehem, 1-3 p.m., 610-691-8648.
Monday Evening Bible Study, Finnegan Room, Assumption
BVM, Bethlehem, 6:30-8 p.m., 610-867-7424, ext. 12.
GriefShare Workshop and Support Group, St. Catharine of
Siena, 2427 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, 7-8:30 p.m., 610-3701174.
First Mondays
Eucharistic Adoration, Chapel, St. Elizabeth of Hungary,
Whitehall, after 8 a.m. Mass, evening prayer and benediction
5 p.m., second Mondays if falls on federal holiday or holy day,
610-266-0695.
First and third Tuesdays
Catechism Classes for Men, Catholic Men of Good News,
Franciscan Center (former convent), St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, 7 p.m., 610-462-9700.
Second Tuesdays
Cancer Support Group, Msgr. Gobitas Meeting Room, St.
Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton, 7 p.m.
Hoagie Sale, Knights of Columbus Cardinal Francis Brennan
Council 618, $4, pickup 9 a.m. until sold out, 201 W. Cherry
St., order 570-590-1188, 570-462-1430.
Rosary and Benediction, St. Joseph, Jim Thorpe, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesdays
Spiritual Book Study, directed by Pat and Rich Kane, St.
Francis Retreat House, Easton, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday Morning Bible Study, Assumption BVM, Bethlehem, 10-11:30 a.m., 610-867-7424, ext. 12.
Rosary and Novena, St. Patrick, Pottsville, 7 p.m.
Bible Study, SS. Simon and Jude, Bethlehem, 7-8:30 p.m.,
bring your Bible.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study, rectory basement, St. Paul,
Allentown, new time 7-8:30 p.m., join anytime, 610-797-9733,
ext.14.
Strudel Sale, deadline for orders, St. Stephen of Hungary,
Allentown, cutoff noon, $15-$18, pickup Friday 3 p.m., www.
buystrudel.com, 610-393-2806.
First and third Wednesdays
Joseph’s People, support group for unemployed and underemployed persons, St. Catharine of Siena, Reading, 7-8:30
p.m., 610-385-3699, 484-651-0498, kaf8860@dejazzd.com or
jsenick@ptd.net.
Women’s Prayer Group, Sister Gertrude Room, Franciscan
Center, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, fellowship and hospitality 6:30 p.m., prayer hour 7-8 p.m., 610-509-3167, gatheredingrace@aol.com.
Second and fourth Wednesdays
God’s Bountiful Table, soup kitchen open for disadvantaged
and those in need, St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Matthew
the Evangelist, Minersville, at Father Anthony Ricapito Annex,
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., volunteers needed, 570-544-2739.
Young Adults Bible Study and Dinner, St. Stephen of Hungary, Allentown, 5:30 p.m., RSVP patrickfitzsimmons@saintstephenofhungary.net, http://www.saintstephenofhungary.net/.
Rosary, Marian Prayer Group, St. Jane Frances de Chantal,
Easton, 610-253-3553.
Thursdays
Bible Study, Wortmann Center, Holy Family, Nazareth, 9:3011 a.m., bring your Bible.
“Prayer of the Heart – Contemplative Prayer,” classes, St.
Francis Retreat House, Easton, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Scripture Study, SS. Simon and Jude, Bethlehem, 10-11:30
a.m., 610-867-1649.
Musical Entertainment, Christopher’s at Columbian Home,
Knights of Columbus Calvary Council 528, Allentown, 7-10
p.m., 610-432-6333.
Faith Sharing, Allentown Bethlehem Catholic Young Adults,
Assumption BVM, Bethlehem, 7:30-8:45 p.m.
First Thursdays
Holy Mass with Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament,
Barnabite Spiritual Center, Bethlehem, 7-9 p.m.
Second Thursdays
Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic, Chapter of the Expectation of
the Blessed Mother, Notre Dame of Bethlehem, 6:30-8:30 p.m.,
610-285-2288, 610-691-6761, 610-865-9236.
Second and fourth Thursdays
“On-Going Job Transition Workshop,” job transition group for
those seeking employment or career advancement, St. Francis
Retreat House, Easton, 9-11:30 a.m., free, 610-258-3053,
mikesfrh@rcn.com or www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Fridays
Holy Mass, Barnabite Spiritual Center, Bethlehem, 7:30 p.m.
“Symbolon, the Catholic Faith Explained,” catechetical program, Barnabite Spiritual Center, Bethlehem, 8:30 p.m.
First Fridays
Respect for Life Holy Hour, Adoration Chapel, St. Francis of
Assisi, Allentown, 7 p.m.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Holy Family, Nazareth,
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fourth Mondays
“Kids Konnected,” support group for children with a parent
being treated for cancer, St. Joseph Medical Center, Reading,
7 p.m., registration required 610-378-2602, www.kidskonnected.
org.
Saturdays
Holy Hour for Our Country, Adoration Chapel, St. Francis of
Assisi, Allentown, noon.
Last Mondays
Mass and Veneration of Relic St. Pauline Visintainer, Our
Lady’s Chapel, St. Patrick, Pottsville, 5 p.m.
First Saturdays
Holy Hour for Vocations, Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena,
Allentown, begins with 8 a.m. Mass (except May and June).
Devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, 4:05 p.m.
Tuesdays
Eucharistic Day of Prayer, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Sinking
Spring, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after 8 a.m. Mass
until 7 p.m. Benediction, 610-678-3767.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study, rectory basement, St. Paul,
Allentown, 9:30-11 a.m., join anytime, 610-797-9733, ext. 14.
Catholic Charities Services, Annunciation BVM, Shenandoah, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., appointments 570-628-0466.
Parenting Support Educational Series, Catholic Charities, Annunciation BVM, Shenandoah, 11 a.m.-noon, free, for parents
and grandparents of infants through toddlers, register 570-6280466.
Holy Hour with Mary for Religious Liberty, National Shrine
of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Immaculate Conception BVM, Allentown, 1:30 p.m.
Scripture Class with Father Paul Marconi, Barnabite Spiritual
Center, Bethlehem, 7-9 p.m., 610-691-8648.
First Tuesdays
“Simply Prayer” mornings of prayer, reflection and sharing,
St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 9:30 a.m.-noon,
610-867-8890.
Second Saturdays
Prayer Pilgrimage, Helpers of God’s Precious Infants; Mass,
Notre Dame of Bethlehem, 8 a.m., followed by 15 decades
of the rosary at Allentown Women’s Center, 31 S. Commerce
Way, Bethlehem, 610-797-7403, hogpi@hotmail.com.
Second and fourth Saturdays
Sacrament of Reconciliation, Barnabite Spiritual Center,
Bethlehem, 11 a.m.-noon.
Saturday, March 7
“Pink-Out Event,” CYO, St. Anne School, Bethlehem, 9 a.m.,
free, five basketball games with St. Anne students, pink T-shirts
available $15 (XXL $18), benefit local cancer patients and their
families, 831rjs@gmail.com.
Sunday, March 8
Breakfast, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall, 8:30-11:30
a.m., adults $6, children $3, 3 and under free, monthly breakfast feature homemade rice pudding, 610-266-0695.
March 5, 2015
Spaghetti Dinner, Knights of Columbus Father DeNisco
Council, West Bangor Road in Washington Township, 11 a.m.5 p.m., $9, children under 8 free, for takeout bring your own
container.
Trinity Academy Family Bowling Day, Strike Zone Alley,
Pottsville, 2-4 p.m., $10 per person, tickets available in the
school office or 570-462-3927.
Monday, March 9
“A Biblical Worldview: Needed Answers in a Cultural Shift
Toward Indifference,” Faith and Spirits Series, Part I, speaker
Msgr. Andrew Baker, sponsored by diocesan Office of Adult
Formation, Allentown Brew Works, 6:30-8:30 p.m., adultformation@allentowndiocese.org, www.allentowndiocese.org/aff, 610289-8900, ext. 221.
Friendly Fifties, St. John the Baptist Byzantine, Northampton,
1 p.m., entertainment Ultimate Sound with Frank Godiska,
canceled if Northampton schools are delayed or closed.
Tuesday, March 10
Low Impact Aerobics, parish hall, St. Elizabeth of Hungary,
Whitehall, 6-6:50 p.m., $15, Tuesdays and Thursdays through
April 23, registration deadline March 5, dirreled@sercc.org.
Forks of the Delaware Serra Club, St. Francis Retreat
House, Easton, Mass 6:15 p.m., celebrant Father Stan Moczydiowski, dinner 7 p.m. (reservations 610-252-3340), talk
“Words of Wisdom” by Father Stan 7:45 p.m.
“How Catholics Read and Interpret Scriptures,” speaker
Father Bernard Ezaki, Serra Club of Bethlehem, Monocacy
Manor, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 12
Serra Club of Reading, McGlinn Conference Center, Reading, 4:45 p.m., speaker Dianna Ross.
Friday, March 13
Dance Ensemble Concert, Labuda Center for the Performing
Arts, DeSales University, Center Valley, 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.,
adults $15, students and seniors $12, also Saturday, March 14,
8 p.m., and Sunday, March 16, 3 p.m., 610-282-3192, www.
desales.edu/act1.
Sunday, March 15
St. Patty’s Day Breakfast, Knights of Columbus, St. Ignatius
Loyola, Sinking Spring, 8 a.m.-noon, adults $7.50, children
under 12 $3.50.
Mary’s Shelter Bowl-a-Thon, Berks Lanes, Sinking Spring,
12:30-2:30 p.m. or 3-5 p.m., registration and sponsorship forms
610-603-8010, www.marysshelter.org.
Catholic Singles of Allentown Reflection and Fellowship,
Finnegan Room, Assumption BVM, Bethlehem, 3-4:30 p.m.,
followed by dinner at restaurant of choice, cslv@me.com, 610797-1970.
“The Way of the Cross” Concert, featuring Catholic singer
Donna Cori Gibson, Notre Dame of Bethlehem, 7 p.m., free will
offering.
Monday, March 16
“Gospel of Matthew,” Bible Study Group new segment,
Finnegan Room, Assumption BVM, Bethlehem, 1-2:30 p.m.
and 6:30-8 p.m., 610-867-7424, ext. 12; also Wednesday,
March 18, 11-11:30 a.m..
Wednesday, March 18
Allentown Serra Club, St. Thomas More, Allentown, 7 p.m.,
speaker Tony Muir on his trips to the Holy Land.
“Gospel of Matthew,” Bible Study Group new segment,
Finnegan Room, Assumption BVM, Bethlehem, 11-11:30 a.m.;
also Monday, March 16, 1-2:30 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m., 610-8677424, ext. 12.
Saturday, March 21
“Warriors for Christ – Men After God’s Own Heart,” speaker
Bishop of Harrisburg Ronald Gainer, Bishop McDevitt High
School, 1 Crusader Way, Harrisburg, 8:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m., $30,
register www.hbgdiocese/men, information 610-217-1739.
Serra Clubs of the Diocese of Allentown in prayer for vocations, with tour of Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally, the oldest
church in the Diocese of Allentown, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with
rosary, Mass and lunch, $10 per person, all are welcome, 610349-8176, jmchale81@yahoo.com, 484-706-3013, stephenchahn@
yahoo.com.
St. Patrick’s Day Party, Hanlon Center, Assumption BVM,
Bethlehem, 6-9:30 p.m., $15 per person, tickets must be purchased in advance, 610-867-7424.
Sunday, March 22
Schlachtfest, Holy Family, Nazareth, at Holy Family Club,
Nazareth, 2-5 p.m., pork roast buffet 1-2 p.m., $20 per person,
610-759-4728, 610-759-1003.
Parish Seder Meal, social hall, SS. Simon & Jude, Bethlehem, 4 p.m., adults $13.50, no reservations without payment,
610-866-5582.
“Faith Alive: The Family Fully Alive,” regional event in preparation for the September 2015 World Meeting of Families, $10
per family, includes guest speakers, prayer, group activities
and a family meal; four locations: St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield, 4-6 p.m.; St. John XXIII, Tamaqua, 4-6 p.m.; St. Catharine
of Siena, Reading, 6-8 p.m.; Holy Family, Nazareth, 6-8 p.m.,
registration materials www.allentowndiocese.org/faithalive,
registration deadline Wednesday, March 11.
Tuesday, March 24
“Teaching Theology in High School,” speaker Thomas Kuehne, Serra Club of Bethlehem, Monocacy Manor, Bethlehem,
6:30 p.m.
Forks of the Delaware Serra Club, St. Francis Retreat House,
Easton, chapel 6:15 p.m., rosary 6:30 p.m., dinner 7 p.m. (reservations 610-252-3340), speaker Vince Presto 7:45 p.m.
“A Home for the Wounded Heart,” evening of reflection for
the separated and divorced on an important theme of the
upcoming World Meeting of Families, sponsored by diocesan
Office of Marriage and Family Life Formation, presenter Father
Patrick Lamb, McGlinn Conference Center, Reading, 7 p.m.,
RSVP by Monday, March 23, mflf@allentowndiocese.org, 610289-8900, ext. 228; also Wednesday, March 25 in Easton (see
next page).
Please see CALENDAR page 19 }}
Diocese
March 5, 2015
The A.D. Times
Calendar
presented by Deacon Robert Young of St. Francis of Assisi,
Allentown, register 610-433-6461.
Bingo, St. Katharine Drexel, Lansford, 6:30 p.m., doors open
5 p.m.
}}Continued from page 18
Tuesday, March 17
“Catholicism 101,” an informative, informal night for questions about our Catholic faith, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, 7
p.m.
Fridays
Bingo, St. Jerome, Tamaqua, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25
“A Home for the Wounded Heart,” evening of reflection for
the separated and divorced on an important theme of the
upcoming World Meeting of Families, sponsored by diocesan
Office of Marriage and Family Life Formation, presenter Father
George Winne, St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, 7 p.m.,
RSVP by Monday, March 23, mflf@allentowndiocese.org, 610289-8900, ext. 228; also Tuesday, March 24 in Reading (see
above).
Thursday, March 26
Bake Sale, Slovak rolls, paska and kiffles, Cardinal Tomko
Chapter of Slovak Catholic Federation, cafeteria, St. John the
Baptist School, Allentown, pickup 11 a.m.-2 p.m., order by
Wednesday, March 18, 610-866-8945,.
Friends of Francis Festival, benefit St. Francis Home,
Reading (providing compassionate, loving care to terminally ill
residents in a faith-based, family environment), Crowne Plaza,
Wyomissing, 5:30-9:30 p.m., $50 per person, RSVP by Tuesday, March 17, 484-529-2444.
Serra Club of Reading, Riveredge Restaurant, Reading, 6
p.m., speaker Father David Kozak.
Saturday, March 28
CYO Coaches Clinic, St. Anne, Bethlehem, 9 a.m.-noon,
$25, oyyam@allentowndiocese.org, 610-289-8900, ext. 228.
Sunday, March 29
“Spring into Mission,” benefit for retired MSC sisters and
their missions, Stokesay Castle, Reading, 4 p.m., reservations
$60 per person, under 18 $25, 610-929-2802, cwhitmoyer@
mscreading.org,www.mscreading.org.
Lenten events
Fridays of Lent
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, main church, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, after 8 a.m. Mass until 7 p.m. Stations
of the Cross.
Stations of the Cross, Holy Ghost, Bethlehem, 11:30 a.m.,
followed by Mass.
Stations of the Cross with Benediction, St. Francis of Assisi,
Allentown, 7 p.m.
Stations of the Cross, Incarnation of Our Lord, Bethlehem, 7
p.m., except Good Friday.
Lenten Dinner, St. John the Baptist, Pottsville, at Russell
Building, Ninth Street and Schuylkill Avenue, 4-7 p.m., adults
$13-$16, children $8, 570-622-5470, 570-628-3002, except
Good Friday.
Fish Bake, Knights of Columbus Council 4050, Ruffenach
Hall, Chestnut and South Ruch streets, Whitehall, 5-7 p.m.,
adults $9, children 3-12 $5, under 3 free, March 6 and 13.
Lenten Fish Bake, Knights of Columbus Council Our Lady
of the Sacred Heart Council 4282, Nazareth, at Holy Family
Club, 515 W. Mauch Chunk St., Nazareth, 4-7 p.m., adults $10,
children 6-12 $5, under 6 free, March 6, 20 and 27.
Lenten Pierogi Sale, St. Mary, Reading, $7.50-$8 per dozen,
610-376-6321, except Good Friday.
Lenten Fish Dinner, Knights of Columbus Sacred Heart
Council 15682, Father King Hall, Sacred Heart, Bethlehem,
4:30-7 p.m., adults $9, children 6-12 $5, under 6 free, except
Good Friday.
Lenten Fish Dinner, Knights of Columbus Post 14464, church
basement, Sacred Heart, Bath, 4:30-7 p.m., adults $9, children
6-12 $4, under 6 free; flounder special $12, except Good Friday.
Lenten Fish Dinner, baked and fried, Knights of Columbus
Council 345, Father Farrell Hall, St. Jane Frances de Chantal,
Easton, 4-7 p.m., adults $11, seniors $10, children $6, 4 and
under free, carryouts $11, 610-330-2917, 610-252-3340, March
6, 13, 20, 27.
Fish Fry, followed by Stations of the Cross, Knights of
Columbus Council 14880. St. Catharine of Siena, Route 562,
4975 Boyertown Pike, Reading, 5-7 p.m., adults $12.50, grade
school children $5, tickets 610-926-7526, March 6, 13, 27.
Lenten Food Sales, Parish Center, St Matthew the Evangelist, Minersville, noon-3 p.m., March 6 and 20, place large
orders on Fridays 9-11 a.m., 570-544-5485.
Fish Dinner, Knights of Columbus, St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring, 5-7 p.m., adults $10, children under 12 $5, March
13.
Fish Dinner, St. Michael Ukrainian, Shenandoah, 4-6 p.m.,
$8.50, order by March 23 for March 27, 570-462-0809.
Wednesdays of Lent
Lenten Devotion, Shrine of St. Therese Lisieux, St. Francis of
Assisi, Nesquehoning, 6 p.m., includes Stations of the Cross,
Novena Prayers to St. Therese of Lisieux and Benediction.
Book Discussion on “He Leadeth Me” by Father Walter
Ciszek, led by Sister Mary Ann Spaetti, Trinity Academy at the
Father Walter Ciszek Education Center, Shenandoah, 6:30-8
p.m., March 4, 11, 18 and 25.
Sunday, March 8
Lenten Taize Service, night of prayer and meditation through
music, Scripture and silence, St. Benedict, Mohnton, 6 p.m.,
questions 610-856-1006, andang@hgaschool.org.
“How Do I Forgive You?” speaker marriage and family
therapist Joan Doherty, Father Schneider Hall, Most Blessed
Sacrament, Bally, 7-9 p.m., free will offering, registration 610248-2171, mchova@aol.com, cancellation date Sunday, March
22.
Friday, March 27
Living Stations of the Cross, presented by school students,
Holy Family, Nazareth, 7 p.m.
Living Stations of the Cross, presented by youth group,
Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown, 7 p.m., free.
Saturday, March 28
Easter Bread Sale, St. Michael Ukrainian Church, Shenandoah, noon, rolls $12, paska $7/$7.50, deadline to order Tuesday,
March 10, 570-462-0809.
Easter Nut Roll Sale, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, $14 per
roll, pickup after weekend Masses, orders and payment due by
Sunday, March 15, 610-433-6102.
Palm Sunday, March 29 and Good Friday, April 3
Living Stations of the Cross, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown,
Palm Sunday 3 p.m.; Good Friday 7 p.m.
Good Friday, April 3
Collection for Shrines of Our Faith in the Holy Land, all parishes in the Diocese of Allentown.
Devil Crab/Fish Dinner, Knights of Columbus Council 618,
201 W. Cherry St., Shenandoah, 3 p.m.-sellout, $9, preorder by
Saturday, March 21, 570-462-1430, 570-590-1188, 570-4620116, free delivery in Shenandoah.
Beautiful Gate Rosary Mysteries of Good Friday, St. Jane
Frances de Chantal, Easton, noon, 610-253-3553.
Saturday, April 4
Blessing of Easter Food, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown,
noon.
Retreats
First Tuesdays
“Simply Prayer,” mornings of prayer, reflection and sharing,
St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 9:30 a.m.-noon,
free will offering, 610-867-8890, www.stfranciscenterforrenewal.
org.
First Fridays
“Retreat Day,” St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, 9 a.m.-2
p.m., $25, register by previous Monday, 610-258-3053, ext. 10,
www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Friday, March 20 – Sunday, March 22
“Dealing with Differences – How Can We Get Along,” men’s
and women’s retreat, St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, $170,
610-258-3053, ext. 10, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat Weekend, post-abortion healing
retreat, within a safe, confidential, non-judgmental environment, experience God’s healing love and forgiveness,
1-866-3Rachel, listing of dates and locations www.rachelsvineyard.org.
Monday, March 23
“Feeding the Hungry,” mini-retreat, St. Francis Retreat
House, Easton, 6-9 p.m., $20, dinner included, speaker Dr.
Carmina Chapp of the Dorothy Day Farm near Scranton, 610258-3053, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Monday, April 27
“Reverence for Human Life from Conception to Natural
Death,” mini-retreat, St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, 6-9
p.m., $20, 610-258-3053, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Friday, July 10 – Sunday, July 12
“The Power of Retreat – Dorothy Day’s Experience,” married
couples’ retreat, St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, $195, 610258-3053, ext. 10, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Sunday, July 19 – Friday, July 24
“Windows to the Sacred – An Icon Writing Retreat,” St.
Francis Retreat House, Easton, $440, 610-258-3053, ext. 10,
stfranrh@rcn.com, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Saturday, March 7
Casino Night, Mercy Special Learning Center, Allentown,
6:30-10 p.m., $30 per person, $50 per couple, tharper@mercyspeciallearning.org, 610-797-8242, must be 21 to attend.
Sunday, March 8
Chinese Auction, church hall, St. Vincent de Paul, Girardville,
2 p.m., doors and kitchen open noon.
Tricky Tray, St. Joseph Regional Academy, Jim Thorpe at Jim
Thorpe Memorial Hall, 3 p.m., doors open noon, tickets 570325-3186, www.sjracademy.org.
Sundays, March 8, 22, April 12, 26, May 10, 24, June 14, 28
Bingo, Knights of Columbus Council 618, Shenandoah at St.
Stephen Hall, 2 p.m., doors open noon, accessible to handicapped.
Sundays, March 8, April 12, May 17
Bingo, parish center, Assembled Men, St. Mary Annunciation
BVM, Catasauqua, 1 p.m., kitchen open 11:30 a.m., 610-2640332.
Thursday, March 12
Basket Bingo, St. Thomas More, Allentown, 7 p.m., www.
stmchurchallentown.org.
Saturday, March 14
“Designer Bag” Bingo, St. Theresa School, Hellertown, 7 p.m.,
doors open 6 p.m., $20, information 610-861-7399, theholub4@
verizon.net; tickets 610-438-3345, cshupe@rcn.com.
Saturday, March 14 – Sunday, March 15
Basket Social and Bake Sale, St. Nicholas, Walnutport, Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $5, 610-767-3107,
610-767-9892.
Saturday, March 21
Pot of Gold, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, 7 p.m., doors
open 6:30 p.m., $20 (includes entrance ticket), $10 (does not
include entrance ticket), 610-433-6102, adult-only and smokefree event.
Saturday, March 21 – Sunday, March 22
Tricky Tray, Notre Dame of Bethlehem, Saturday 10 a.m.6:30 p.m., Sunday, March 22, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 22
Chinese Auction, Men of Marian High School, Tamaqua, 2:30
p.m., doors open 11 a.m., browsing Friday, March 20, 6-8 p.m.,
570-467-0641, 570-582-0021.
Ham Bingo, St. Matthew the Evangelist, Minersville, at Good
Shepherd Building, 301 Heffner St., Minersville, noon, admission $3, 570-544-2211.
Longaberger Baskets, Vera Bradley and Coach Handbag
Bingo, Bethlehem Chapter of Unico, cafeteria, Bethlehem
Catholic High School, 1:30 p.m., doors open 12:30 p.m., tickets
$20, 610-866-8945.
Friday, March 27 – Sunday, March 29
Tricky Tray, Home and School Association, Our Lady of
Perpetual Help, Bethlehem, Friday 5-9 p.m., Saturday 1-8 p.m.,
Sunday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sunday, April 19
ShareCare Faith in Action Benefit Auction, honoring Msgr.
Edward Sacks, Beth Dague and John Jordan, Our Lady of
Perpetual Help, Bethlehem, 2-4 p.m., advance tickets $20, at
door $25, 610-867-2177.
Trips
Newly announced
Tuesday, March 17
St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown to Mohegan Sun Casino,
Wilkes-Barre, $22, 610-433-6102, 484-661-5370.
Friday, Sept 18 – Sunday, Sept. 29
“Savoring the Gospel of St. John,” men’s and women’s retreat, St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, $170, 610-258-3053,
ext. 10, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Wednesday, March 18
Travelers, St. Matthew the Evangelist, Minersville to Mount
Airy Casino, Mount Pocono, $29, 570-544-5231, 570-6285413.
Friday, Oct. 2 – Sunday, Oct 4
“Francis and Clare of Assisi – Their Legend and Their Lives,”
St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, $170, 610-258-3053, ext.
10, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Saturday, March 21
St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield to Divine Mercy Conference,
Bronx, N.Y., $25, 610-530-0174, nclee1780@juno.com; register
for conference $60, 800-462-7426, www.thedivinemercy.org/
bronx.
Socials
Saturday, May 2
55+ Club, Notre Dame of Bethlehem to “How to Succeed in
Business Without Really Trying,” DeSales University, Center
Valley, 610-866-0360, 610-867-7341.
Sundays
Bingo, St. Joseph, Summit Hill, 6:30 p.m.
Bingo, Immaculate Conception School, Pen Argyl, 1 p.m.,
doors open 11 a.m., 610-863-4816.
Second Sundays
Bingo, Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally, 12:30 p.m., doors
open 11 a.m.
19
Wednesday, May 6
Friendly Fifties, St. John the Baptist Byzantine, Northampton
to “Inspire,” American Music Theater, Lancaster, $78, 610-7674881.
Sunday, June 7 – Tuesday, June 9
Trips and Tours, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton to
Niagara Falls, N.Y., $330, 610-252-4233.
Tuesday, March 10; Wednesday, March 18
Lenten Dinner, Divine Mercy, Shenandoah, at St. Stephen
Church Hall, Shenandoah, 3-5:30 p.m., take-out only, $8,
deadline for orders a week before dinner 570-462-1968.
Wednesdays
Bingo, Slovak Catholic Sokol, SS. Cyril and Methodius,
Reading, at Slovak Catholic Social Hall, 411 Crestmont St.,
6:30 p.m., doors open 5 p.m. (changed from Mondays).
Thursday, June 11
55+ Club, Notre Dame of Bethlehem to Mohegan Sun Casino, $25, 610-866-0360, 610-867-7341.
Thursdays, March 12, 19 and 26
“How to Pray Liturgy of the Hours,” Msgr. Ott Room,
Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown, 6:30-8 p.m.,
Thursdays
Bingo, Knights of Columbus Home Association, Reading,
6:30 p.m., doors open 5 p.m., nonsmoking.
Sunday, Sept. 13 – Friday, Sept 18
Trips and Tours, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton to
Cape Cod area, Mass., $1,250, 610-252-4233.
20
The A.D. Times
World
March 5, 2015
During Lent, pope offers handy tips for preparing for confession
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – As Catholics are encouraged to make going to
confession a significant part of their lives
during Lent, Pope Francis offered some
quick tips to help people prepare for the
sacrament of penance.
After a brief explanation of why people should go to confession – “because
we are all sinners” – the pope listed 30
key questions to reflect on as part of making an examination of conscience and being able to “confess well.”
The guide is part of a 28-page booklet
in Italian released by the Vatican publishing house. Pope Francis had 50,000 free
copies distributed to people attending his
Angelus address Feb. 22, the first Sunday
of Lent.
Titled “Safeguard your heart,” the
booklet is meant to help the faithful become “courageous” and prepared to battle against evil and choose the good.
The booklet contains quick introductions to Catholic basics: it has the text of
the Creed, a list of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit, the Ten Commandments and the
Beatitudes. It explains the seven sacraments and includes Pope Francis’ explanation of “lectio divina,” a prayerful way
of reading Scripture in order to better
hear “what the Lord wants to tell us in
his word and to let us be transformed by
his Spirit.”
The booklet’s title is based on a line
from one of the pope’s morning Mass
homilies in which he said Christians need
to guard and protect their hearts, “just as
you protect your home – with a lock.”
“How often do bad thoughts, bad in-
tentions, jealousy, envy enter?” he asked.
“Who opened the door? How did those
things get in?”
The Oct. 10, 2014, homily, which is
excerpted in the booklet, said the best
way to guard one’s heart is with the
daily practice of an “examination of conscience,” in which one quietly reviews
what bad things one has done and what
good things one has failed to do for God,
one’s neighbor and oneself.
The questions include:
Do I only turn to God when I’m in
need?
Do I take attend Mass on Sundays and
holy days of obligation?
Do I begin and end the day with
prayer?
Am I embarrassed to show that I am a
Christian?
Do I rebel against God’s plan?
Am I envious, hot-tempered, biased?
Am I honest and fair with everyone or
do I fuel the “throwaway culture?”
In my marital and family relations, do
I uphold morality as taught in the Gospels?
Do I honor and respect my parents?
Have I refused newly conceived life?
Have I snuffed out the gift of life? Have I
helped do so?
Do I respect the environment?
Am I part worldly and part believer?
Do I overdo it with eating, drinking,
smoking and amusements?
Am I overly concerned about my
physical well-being, my possessions?
How do I use my time? Am I lazy?
Do I want to be served?
Do I dream of revenge, hold grudges?
Am I meek, humble and a builder of
peace?
Catholics should go to confession, the
pope said, because everyone needs forgiveness for their sins, for the ways “we
think and act contrary to the Gospel.”
“Whoever says he is without sin is a
liar or is blind,” he wrote.
Confession is meant to be a sincere
moment of conversion, an occasion to
demonstrate trust in God’s willingness
to forgive his children and to help them
back on the path of following Jesus, Pope
Francis wrote.
Fridays
ican Radio and the Vatican newspaper.
Lent is not about the formal observance of “doing a little whatever” and not
eating meat on Fridays, while giving oneself free reign to “grow in selfishness, exploit others and ignore the poor,” he said.
There might be someone who thinks,
“Today is Friday, I can’t eat meat, but I’m
going to have a nice plate of seafood, a
real banquet,” which, while appearing to
be an abstinence from meat, is the sin of
gluttony, the pope said.
Another person might say: “I am a
great Catholic, Father, I like it a lot. I always go to Mass every Sunday, I receive
Communion.”
To which, the pope said he would reply, “Great, and how is your relationship
with your workers? Do you pay them
under the table? Do you give them a fair
wage? Do you contribute toward their
pension? To their health insurance and
social services?”
Some people may regularly make financial contributions to the church, but,
the pope asked, how generous are they
toward their loved ones and their dependents? Are they generous and just to
them, too, he asked.
People cannot “make offerings to the
church on the back of injustice,” he said.
“It is not a good Christian who doesn’t
do justice to the people who depend on
him” and who does not “deprive himself
of something essential for him in order to
give it to another who is in need.”
“This is the distinction between formal and real,” he said, which Jesus underlined, too, when he condemned the
Pharisees and doctors of the law, who adhered to “many external observances but
without the truth of the heart.”
Unfortunately, he said, many “men
and women have faith but they separate
the tablets of law,” that is, they obey the
first commandments and obligations to
God while ignoring or being selective
about the rest of the commandments concerning others.
“They are united: love toward God
and love to your neighbor are one, and
if you want to practice real, not formal,
penance, you have to do it before God
and also with your brother and sister,
your neighbor,” he said.
The pope asked that during Lent
people think about what they can do for
people who are in very difficult situations, for example, to help “children and
the elderly who don’t have the possibility
of being seen by a doctor.”
Perhaps they have to wait “eight hours
to be seen and then they give them an appointment for the week after,” he said.
“What will you do for these people?
What will your Lent be like?”
He also asked people to make room
in their hearts for those who have sinned,
those who “have made mistakes and are
in jail.”
To those who may protest about associating with people who have been imprisoned, the pope said, “He is in jail, but
you – if you are not in jail, it is because
the Lord helped you to not fall.” Pray for
them, he said, so that the Lord may help
them turn their lives around.
}}Continued from page 1
The pope’s homily was based on the
day’s reading from the Book of Isaiah in
which God tells his people he does not
care for those who observe penance passively – bowed “like a reed,” lying quietly in a “sackcloth and ashes.”
Instead, God says he desires to see
his people crying out “full-throated and
unsparingly” against injustice and sin,
“setting free the oppressed, breaking
every yoke; sharing your bread with the
hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the
homeless.”
In the reading, God also points out the
hypocrisy of the faithful who fast, but
treat their workers badly and fight and
quarrel with others.
Pope Francis said Lent is about fulfilling all commandments both toward God
and others, according to reports from Vat-
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Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the end of a five-day Lenten spiritual retreat with members of the Roman Curia in Ariccia, near Rome Feb. 27. (CNS
photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)
Diocese
March 5, 2015
The A.D. Times
Sunday Scripture
Sunday, March 8
Third Sunday of Lent
Sunday, March 15
Fourth Sunday of Lent
First reading
Exodus 20:1-17
Responsorial psalm
Psalms 19:8-11
Second reading
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
Gospel
John 2:13-25
First reading
2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23
Responsorial psalm
Psalms 137:1-6
Second reading
Ephesians 2:4-10
Gospel
John 3:14-21
Volunteers needed at Holy Family Manor
Holy Family Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Bethlehem is in need
of volunteers to serve as extraordinary
ministers of the Eucharist, offering Holy
Communion to residents.
You need not be a Eucharistic minister
in your parish. Training will be provided.
For more information or to volunteer,
call Rose or Alexis, 610-865-5595, ext.
522.
Courses on ‘The Church’ and
‘Christian Morality’ to start in March
The Institute for Catechesis and
Formation will offer courses on ‘The
Church” (ICF 106) and “Christian Morality” (ICF 105) beginning this month.
“The Church” is the place of encounter between God and his people. This
course will provide a brief overview of
the origins of the church; her identity as
“One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic”; and
what it means to be “the Body of Christ”
on earth.
This informative four-week course
will be offered at three locations:
Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19 and 26,
7 to 9 p.m. at Bethlehem Catholic High
School, 2133 Madison Ave., Bethlehem.
Saturdays, March 7, 14, 21 and 28, 9
to 11 a.m. at Berks Catholic High School,
955 Wyomissing Blvd., Reading and Nativity BVM High School, One Lawtons
Hill, Pottsville.
“Morality” will provide an introduction to the fundamental teachings of
Catholic morality and its foundations in
Sacred Scripture, Tradition and Natural
Law.
Participants will examine virtue, conscience formation and make application
to contemporary moral issues in the areas
of health care, sexuality and social justice.
Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19 and 26,
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at St. Thomas More
School, 1040 Flexer Ave., Allentown.
There is a $30 charge for each course,
payable to Diocese of Allentown. ICF
courses are meant for any adult Catholic
looking to grow deeper and learn more
about the faith. There are no prerequisites for these courses.
For a registration form, visit www.allentowndiocese.org/icf.
Auction planned to honor
Msgr. Sacks and parishioners
ShareCare Faith In Action is a
nonprofit agency providing free care
giving assistance to people who are
elderly or disabled in the Lehigh
Valley. Over 300 agency volunteers
come from several area faith communities and the community at large.
Each year the agency presents
the Faith In Action award honoring
the commitment and support of a
faith partner. Without their support,
ShareCare would not be able to serve
the community needs.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bethlehem has been a faith partner since
2002. Parishioners Beth Dague and
John Jordan were instrumental in
meeting with Pastor Msgr. William
Sacks about joining the faith communities of ShareCare.
The award will be presented to
them at the ShareCare Faith In Action
Benefit Auction to be held Sunday,
April 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. at OLPH.
Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres
and ice cream sundaes as they bid on
an array of items. Auction tickets are
$20 in advance and $25 at the door.
For tickets, donations or more information, call 610-867-2177.
21
22
The A.D. Times
Diocese
March 5, 2015
Religious educators seek to shine God’s light through today’s culture
By TARA CONNOLLY
Staff writer
An estimated 40 parish directors of
religion education gathered for the Directors of Religious Education meeting Feb.
23 at St. Thomas More, Allentown.
The meeting explored the theme
“The Family, Domestic Church,” to devise methods to remind the faithful of
the beauty of the church’s teaching on
the gift of sexual intimacy in marriage
between one man and one woman, the
dignity of women, and its moral opposition against domestic violence and sexual
exploitation.
The meeting was an opportunity to
prepare for the upcoming World Meeting
of Families in September in Philadelphia.
Under the theme
“Love Is Our Mission: The Fam“We have
ily Fully Alive,”
to be like
it will emphasize
the impact of the
the saints in
love and life of
history who
families on socihave sufety.
fered defeat.
“We need to
It is time to
discuss what this
is really about.
raise up the
It is not easy and
joy of the
it will have its
Gospels. We
challenges,” said
cannot lose
Bishop Barres.
hope and
He pointed to
Blessed Paul VI’s
we need to
1964 address at
follow the
Nazareth in the
lead of Pope
Holy Land, where
Francis.”
he called the Holy
Family a “wondrous model.” He
also relayed Pope
Francis’ desire for married couples and
families to form a fresh intimacy with Jesus Christ.
“The family as a domestic church has
consequences for the common good and
entire civilization. It is crucial to cultivate
a civilization of love through the domestic church,” said Bishop Barres.
He also noted the likelihood of the
Left, Alexandria Cirko, diocesan director of religious education, welcomes
parish directors of religious education to the meeting “The Family, Domestic
Church.” (Photos by John Simitz)
Above, Bishop Barres discusses the World Meeting of Families during the
meeting.
Below, religious educators meet at St. Thomas More to examine the domestic
church.
U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of
same-sex marriage this term and told
educators not to lose hope.
“We have to be like the saints in history who have suffered defeat. It is time to
raise up the joy of the Gospels. We cannot
lose hope and we need to follow the lead
of Pope Francis,” he said.
“Pope Francis wants us to keep emphasizing our beautiful view of intimacy
and dignity of the human person.”
Advising the educators to stress “lectio divina,” he asked them to discover
creative ways for families to love the
word of God, train children with charitable thoughtfulness, urge others to tap
into the power of the Mass, and bring
sacramental mysticism and silence back
to family life.
“Silence is lost in our culture. Silence,
mental prayer and time before the Blessed
Sacrament makes us productive,” said
Bishop Barres, center, and religious educators convene to focus on measures
to build up the domestic church.
Bishop Barres.
“The rosary is a great powerful and
spiritual weapon in the realm of world
peace. It is a peace-making tool in the
family, too,” he added.
He also reminded educators that their
efforts, along with those of dedicated
families, do indeed raise young evangelizers, some of whom he met during recent pastoral visits to Kutztown University and Lehigh University, Bethlehem.
“Our efforts do make a difference.
These young evangelizers emerge from
families – the domestic church,” said
Bishop Barres.
“Heaven is the goal of the domestic
church, and family life is the workshop
for holiness and mission.”
Bishop Barres called for a refocus on
the complementarity of the sexes and the
true beauty of sex within male-female
marriage.
“Establishing a fresh intimacy with
Jesus Christ is a good start. A fresh intimacy with Jesus Christ leads a married
couple to fresh and deep intimacy with
each other,” he said.
“We need to recognize opportunities
A trinket from the meeting serves as
a reminder to listen, pray, follow and
watch during the Lenten season.
to talk in constructive ways. We need to
up the ante and give loving catechesis”
Diocese
March 5, 2015
Life
}}Continued from page 24
of God, and those who embrace this life
choose to transform the energies of a mecentered world into that of an other-centered world where God can be seen and
experienced and revered,” he said.
Father also stressed that the mission of
religious life is to transform by word and
witness. He noted that the consecrated
The A.D. Times
23
life is meant to show that living together
in mutual respect and serving the common good is attainable.
According to Father Jung, the consecrated life is different from the goals and
lifestyles of many, and it is that difference
that attracts others and assures them that
the way to find happiness is to give happiness.
“Such a spirituality is God’s invitation
to all people and is attainable by all, he
said.
Father Dennet Jung visits with sisters and faithful during the open house.
Above, sisters profess a renewal of vows during the ceremony.
Right, sisters and visitors join together for adoration and reflection at the retreat property – St. Francis Center for Renewal.
Above, enjoying conversation and refreshments at St. Francis are, from left,
Sister Rene Parent, Sister Ruth Zacharias, visitor Joanne Reed and Sister
Carolyn Mitrichka.
Right, sisters offer snacks to faithful visiting the grounds to learn more about
consecrated life.
Spiritual concert
with Donna
Cori Gibson
Notre Dame of Bethlehem is
sponsoring a spiritual music concert,
featuring world-renowned Catholic
music artist and singer/songwriter
Donna Cori Gibson, Sunday, March
15 at 7 p.m. in the church.
Gibson will present a video/concert on her new CD, “The Way of the
Cross.”
A new concept for the Christian
contemporary music market, “The
Way of the Cross” offers a song and
video for each “station” of the cross
of Christ.
Gibson is offering free downloads
from her CD on her website, www.
donnacorigibson.com.
The concert is free but there will
be a free-will offering at the concert.
24
The A.D. Times
Diocese
March 5, 2015
St. Francis Convent opens its doors
and daily life for Year of Consecrated Life
By TARA CONNOLLY
Staff writer
Faithful and members of
the public who wondered
about the lives of the School
Sisters of the Third Order
Regular of St. Francis found
out Feb. 15 during an open
house at St. Francis Convent,
Monocacy Manor, Bethlehem.
In an effort to help others
gain a deeper understanding
of religious life, the community sponsored an open
house as one of the events
for the Year of Consecrated
Life (YCL).
YCL was declared by
Pope Francis in 2013 and is
being celebrated throughout
the world. It began the first
Sunday of Advent, Nov. 30, 2014 and
will close on the World Day of Consecrated Life, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016.
Sister Marguerite Stewart, associate
director of retreats, said although the
frigid weather was recording temperatures
below zero, many men
“After the
and women arrived
academy
for a glimpse into the
closed in
lives of the commu1987 we
nity.
“We greeted them,
began
gave tours and anour reswered
questions,”
treat proshe said.
gram for
Sister Marguerite
men and
said many persons
were interested in
women.”
when the community
arrived in Bethlehem,
how they purchased
the property and the sisters’ ministries.
According to Sister, the first sisters
came to the United States in 1913 to bring
education and spirituality to immigrant
families. Over more than a century they
have served in schools, churches, hospitals and other institutions.
The 108-acre property on Bridal Path
Road was purchased in the 1950s and was
once the home to St. Francis Academy for
Girls, a vineyard and a working farm.
“After the academy closed in 1987 we
began our retreat program for men and
women,” said Sister Marguerite.
The retreat program centers on their
mission to glorify God and witness to the
Left, Sister Bernadine Stemnock, left, and Sister Ruth Zacharias, right, greet visitors during
an open house in conjunction with the Year of
Consecrated Life. From left are Sister Bonnie
Heydt and Sister Maria Gazo. (Photos by John
Simitz)
Below, Sister Irene Novak, left, chats with Rosalie Adducie, center, and Helen McComb about
her life as a member of the School Sisters of
the Third Order Regular of St. Francis.
Gospel by providing a Christ-centered
environment of hospitality, caring and
love as an oasis of peace and healing for
all God’s people.
In addition to the retreat program,
the property houses elderly members
of the community
and is the location
of the Monocacy
In an effort
Farm Project, which
to help
grows organic produce to fund the reothers gain
treat program and
a deeper
assist the needy.
under“A few sisters
standing
also work outof reliside the grounds in
schools, where they
gious life,
teach religious eduthe comcation and computer
munity
technology,”
said
sponsored
Sister Marguerite.
an open
The open house
concluded with rehouse as
flection and adoraone of the
tion led by Father
events for
Dennet Jung, retreat
the Year of
staff member at
ConsecratSt. Francis Friary,
Easton.
ed Life.
“Consecrated life
is the transforming
energy that is set in
place by God and by the church to bring
the light of the Gospel to the world. The
consecrated life is the witness of the reign
Please see LIFE page 23 }}
Visitors tour St. Francis Convent at Monocacy Manor, Bethlehem.
Sisters and faithful pray together during adoration and reflection.