July 31, 2014 - Diocese of Allentown

Transcription

“The Allentown Diocese in the Year of Our Lord”
VOL. 26, NO. 14
JULY 31, 2014
Young men discern their path at Quo Vadis
By TAMI QUIGLEY
Staff writer
“The Gospel of Matthew says that the
Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed.
The mustard seed is microscopic but it has
a powerful and dynamic capacity to grow.
That is what Quo Vadis and this week is
about,” Bishop John Barres offered as principal celebrant and homilist of the second
annual “Quo Vadis – Where Are Going?”
young men’s discernment experience July
20-22 at DeSales University, Center Valley.
“Each of us here today – the young men
participating in Quo Vadis, parents, brothers and sisters who are with us at this Mass
– have, through the sacrament of baptism,
this powerful mustard seed potential to
grow in deep holiness and mission in the
context of a particular vocation,” Bishop
Barres said at the afternoon liturgy in Connelly Chapel.
“And so all the Masses, all the prayers,
meditation and reflection, the discussion,
the fun, the sports and the games and sharing of your creative talent of this week are
all designed for you to follow decisively
and openly the presence and power of the
Please see MEN page 9 }}
Archbishop says
pope will visit
Philadelphia
in September 2015
Bishop John Barres greets young men and their families at the opening Mass of “Quo Vadis – Where Are Going?” July 20
at Connelly Chapel, DeSales University, Center Valley. (Photos by John Simitz)
FARGO, N.D. (CNS) – Philadelphia
Archbishop Charles Chaput said Pope
Francis has accepted his invitation to attend the World Meeting of Families in
the United States next year, even though
the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has not
received official confirmation from the
Stir your faith with classes through
Institute for Catechesis and Formation
By TAMI QUIGLEY
Staff writer
The Institute for Catechesis and Formation (ICF) is offering
many classes to stir your faith this summer and fall, presented at
three locations in the Diocese of Allentown.
Classes are scheduled in several areas, though not all classes are
offered in every location.
The diocesan Office of Adult Formation administers ICF, which
was established in 2012.
“ICF invites you to experience the richness of the faith by entering into it,” said Mary Fran Hartigan, secretary of the diocesan
Secretariat for Catholic Life and Evangelization.
“It offers a variety of opportunities for all the faithful to learn
more about who we are and God’s plan for us. Faith enrichment
classes are open to everyone regardless of your present knowledge
Please see CLASSES page 5 }}
Vatican.
Archbishop Chaput made the announcement July 24 at the opening Mass of the
Tekakwitha Conference in Fargo.
“Pope Francis has told me that he is
coming,” said the archbishop as he invited
his fellow Native Americans to the 2015
celebration in Philadelphia Sept. 22-27.
“The pope will be with us the Friday,
Saturday and Sunday of that week,” he
said.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi,
Please see POPE page 18 }}
‘When the Game Stands Tall’ shares
lessons learned on the football field
By TARA CONNOLLY
Staff writer
A sports drama film depicting an unknown football team from a Catholic high school for boys will be
shown at a special advance presentation Friday, Aug.
22 at Carmike Cinemas 16, Allentown.
“When the Game Stands Tall,” directed by Thomas
Carter (“Coach Carter,” “Save the Last Dance”), is
inspired by a true story detailing the journey of legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel).
The film traces the drive of the Spartans of De La
Salle High School, Concord, Calif. as they rise from
obscurity to embark on a 151-game winning streak
over 12 years.
Although their streak shatters all American sports
records, the story unfolds as Jim Caviezel (“Passion
of the Christ,” “Person of Interest”) continues to
coach after the streak is over.
When real-life adversity leaves the team reeling,
the Spartans must decide if the sacrifice, commitment
and teamwork they have always trusted in can rebuild
what is disintegrating all around them.
Father Allen Hoffa, chaplain at Allentown Central
Catholic High School and Lehigh University, Bethlehem, said players from several athletic teams are
planning to attend the special screening.
“Too often in athletics success is judged by the
numbers that fall under wins and losses. ‘When the
Game Stands Tall’ teaches athletes the core values of
Please see GAME page 4 }}
The film traces the drive of the Spartans of De
La Salle High School, Concord, Calif. as they
rise from obscurity to embark on a 151-game
winning streak.
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The A.D. Times
Diocese
July 31, 2014
Episcopal appointments
Published biweekly on Thursday by
Allentown Catholic Communications, Inc.
at P.O. Box F
Allentown, PA 18105-1538
Phone: 610-871-5200, Ext. 264
Fax: 610-439-7694
E-mail: adtimes@allentowndiocese.org
President
Bishop John Barres
Editor
Jill Caravan
Staff Writers
Tara Connolly
Tami Quigley
Design & Production
Marcus Schneck
Office Assistants
Lori Anderson
Priscilla Tatara
Bishop’s Liaison
Msgr. Alfred Schlert
MISSION STATEMENT
As part of the Catholic Press, The A.D.
Times is the official newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, serving
Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and
Schuylkill counties.
The A.D. Times proclaims the Gospel of
Jesus Christ to the People of God through
evangelization, catechesis and the teaching of the Church, the extension of Christ’s
presence in the world today. It endeavors to
nourish, strengthen and challenge the faith
of its readers by continually providing news
information, formation, inspiration, religious education and Catholic identification.
Under the patronage of Mary, Mother of the
Church, The A.D. Times serves the Church
so that the Kingdom of God might become
a reality in our society transformed by His
Good News.
POLICY STATEMENTS
The A.D. Times will consider all editorial
copy and photos submitted in a fair and objective manner. The newspaper reserves the
right to reject or edit any submission.
Any advertising copy accepted does not
necessarily reflect the views, opinions or
endorsement of The A.D. Times and/or its
publisher. The A.D. Times reserves the right
to reject any advertising copy submitted.
DEADLINES
Advertising copy must be received by Monday of the week before publication. News
copy must be received by Thursday of the
week before publication.
MEMBERSHIPS
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Catholic Press Association Award Winner
1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
POSTAL INFORMATION
The A.D. Times (USPS 004-111) is published on Thursdays, biweekly January to
May; triweekly June to September; biweekly October to November; and triweekly in
December, at a subscription cost of $20 per
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes
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PA 18105-1538
Bishop of Allentown John Barres has made the following appointments.
Father Andrew Gehringer also to member of the Priest Personnel Board, effective Monday, Sept. 1.
Deacon James Russo of Breinigsville to diaconal service at St. Mary, Kutztown, effective July 14.
Diocese to put former school property on market,
invest all proceeds in northern Schuylkill Catholic programs
Over the past year a task force of local clergy and religious, along with several diocesan staff members, conducted
an extensive analysis of options for the
Ashland-area property that housed the
former Cardinal Brennan Junior-Senior
High School.
After careful consideration of the task
force’s analysis and recommendations,
the Diocese of Allentown has decided to
place the property on the market for sale.
The diocese has declared that all proceeds of the sale of the property will remain in Schuylkill County as an invest-
ment in the future of Catholic young
people in northern Schuylkill.
The proceeds will fund scholarships
for students wishing to attend Trinity Academy, Shenandoah; scholarships
for students from north Schuylkill parishes wishing to attend Nativity BVM
High School, Pottsville or Marian High
School, Tamaqua; and will enhance the
area’s youth ministry programs.
Maintaining the former school property has cost the diocese over $200,000 a
year, primarily for use of the gymnasiums
Upcoming topics on
Bishop Barres’
video blog
by CYO teams in the area. Alternative
gym space for CYO use has been identified in the county. Final arrangements and
schedules will be made by local district
CYO officials in the coming months.
“After much prayer and analysis,”
said Diocese of Allentown Bishop John
Barres, “I am confident that selling the
Cardinal Brennan property and investing
the proceeds in the young people of the
north Schuylkill region is the best course
of action. It is an investment in young
people and in their future.”
The Bishop’s Video Blog, now also available as podcasts, is posted
each week on the homepage of the diocesan website, www.allentowndiocese.org and www.allentowndiocese.org/podcast.
Summer dates are:
Tuesday, July 29 – St. Thomas More: A Man for All Seasons.
Friday, Aug. 8 – Father Walter Ciszek and the Gift of Faith.
Monday, Aug. 18 – St. John Vianney and the Sacrament of Penance.
Upcoming issues of The A.D. Times
Publication DateAdvertising DeadlineNews Deadline
August 21August 11August 14
September 11September 1September 4
Diocese
July 31, 2014
The A.D. Times
Annual Diocesan Anniversary Mass set for Sept. 28
The Annual Diocesan Anniversary
Mass Celebration will be held Sunday,
Sept. 28 at the Cathedral of St. Catharine
of Siena, 1875 W. Turner St., Allentown.
Bishop John Barres will begin the cel-
ebration at 3 p.m.
We cordially invite couples celebrating 5, 25, 40, 50, 60 or 60-plus years of
marriage to this special event.
Please register online at http://www.
allentowndiocese.org/anniversarymass,
refer to The A.D. Times for a registration
form or request a form through e-mail at
mflf@allentowndiocese.org.
The form must be completed and re-
turned to the Office of Marriage and Family Life Formation, Attn: Anniversary
Mass, 900 S. Woodward St., Allentown,
PA 18103. The deadline for registration
is Friday, Sept. 12.
Anual Diocesana de la Misa de Aniversario 28 de septiembre
La Celebración Anual Diocesana de
la Misa de Aniversario se celebrará el
Domingo, 28 de septiembre 2014 en la
Catedral St. Catharine de Siena, 1875 W.
Turner St., Allentown.
Nuestro Obispo, el Rvdo. Juan Barres
comenzará la celebración a las 3 p.m.
Cordialmente invitamos a parejas que
celebran cinco, veinticinco, cuarenta, cincuenta, sesenta o más años de matrimonio a este evento especial.
Visite http://www.allentowndiocese.
org/anniversarymass o puede hacer referencia a “The A.D. Times” (el diario Diocesano) para un formulario de inscripción
o solicitar un formulario por correo electrónico a mflf@allentowndiocese.org.
El formulario debe ser completado y
devuelto a la Oficina de Formación Matrimonial y Vida Familiar, Attn: Misa de
Aniversario, 900 S. Woodward St., Allentown, PA 18103.
La fecha límite de inscripción es el 12
de Septiembre.
The King’s Men Come and See Event Aug. 23
Men: Do you want to experience
your faith in a masculine way? Are
you feeling alone or isolated in your
faith journey as a man? Come and see
what The King’s Men is all about.
This exciting masculine faith formation program has opportunities for
you to gain a deeper understanding
of your faith through the lens of authentic Catholic masculinity. “As iron
sharpens iron, so one man sharpens
another” (Psalm 27:17).
Men are invited to join this band of
brothers who gather weekly and are
seeking development in their Godgiven roles as leader, protector and
provider.
An informational meeting is
planned for Saturday Aug. 23 from
9 to 11:30 a.m. at the rectory of the
Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena,
1825 Turner St., Allentown.
For more information and to register, contact Bob Olney, 610-2898900, ext. 224 or mflf@allentowndiocese.org.
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The A.D. Times
Diocese
Game
}}Continued from page 1
what real success is and reminds all athletes of the many beneficial qualities and
virtues found in team sports,” he said.
He said it is important for athletes to
realize that the lessons they learn on the
playing surface are not intended to remain there.
“Young people can at times adopt a
feeling that the world, coaches, friends
and parents expect them to be perfect.
Perfect ability, perfect grades, perfect
looks, perfect reputation are just a few
pressures for young people today,” said
Father Hoffa.
The pressure
to be perfect is
“Winning a
the root of the
lot of footteam’s
unravball games
eling after the
is doable.
streak ends.
Teaching
“The
film
gives important
kids there’s
lessons to athmore to life?
letes and nonathThat’s hard.”
letes concerning
– Coach Bob
what we need
Ladouceur,
most in life and
what each of us
from the
needs to consider
movie “When
when our ideas
the Game
of perfection or
Stands Tall.”
success are shattered,” said Father Hoffa.
Allowing a game to define a person
is not the way an athlete should live his
or her life, said Father Hoffa, who hopes
moviegoers pick up on the moral of the
story.
Actors Michael Chiklis, left, and Jim Caviezel portray De La Salle High School
football coaches in the movie “When the Game Stands Tall.” The film is about
a Catholic high school and the record-setting winning streak of its football
team. (CNS photo/courtesy TriStar Pictures)
“In the end it’s not about the world’s es, that standing tall is accomplished not
view of perfection or success, rather it’s with the flashy externals, but with core
about how we live the life that has been values and a reliance on the God who
given to us by God. God’s desire – along created and loves them.”
with the desire of every person who supThe film is based on the 2003 book
ports the athlete or
young person – is that
they seek to ‘stand
Football’s longest winning streaks
tall’ every day,” he
said.
NFL: New England Patriots, 21 games.
“Young people can
NCAA: Oklahoma Sooners, 47 games.
accomplish this best
High school: De La Salle Spartans, 151 games.
when they realize
what the movie teach-
Tee up for Aug. 17 Holy
Family Manor golf tournament
The 10th Annual Holy Family Manor
Open Golf Tournament will be Sunday,
Aug. 17 at the Bethlehem Golf Club.
The event will include a hot dog lunch,
round of golf, prizes, refreshments, a dinner, a raffle and lots of camaraderie, all
to benefit programs and services for residents of Holy Family Manor Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center, Bethlehem.
Tournament registration will open at
11:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.
The fee to participate is $100 per person. Sponsors, golfers and raffle prizes
are needed.
Holy Family Manor was founded 50
years ago as a home for 42 older adults
“where love of God and love of neigh-
bor abound.” A hallmark of this ministry
is that no one be denied care because of
financial hardship. Last year Holy Family Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center provided more than $4.4 million
in charitable care.
Please join us for a day of golf, fun
and fellowship, to help ensure that every
resident receives quality physical, emotional, social, and spiritual care with respect, dignity and compassion.
Holy Family Manor is a registered
501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more
information on how to become a sponsor,
donate a raffle prize or register to golf,
contact Ann Ruggiero, 610-997-8409 or
aruggiero@cshhcs.org.
July 31, 2014
“When the Game
Stands Tall: The
“The film
Story of the De
gives imporLa Salle Spartans
tant lessons
and Football’s
Longest Winning
to athletes
Streak” by Conand nonathtra Costa Times
letes concernsportswriter Neil
ing what we
Hayes.
need most in
“This incredible
winning
life and what
streak is not
each of us
what makes the
needs to constory ‘one of the
sider when
greatest
footour ideas of
ball stories ever
told,’ as legendperfection or
ary Coach John
success are
Madden puts it in
shattered.”
his review of the
book,” according
to Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., chairman
of the Episcopal Advisory Board of Catholic Athletes for Christ.
“The story is much more than X’s
and O’s. It is a beautiful illustration of
the power of sports, the importance of
character and values, and the lifelong impact a coach – a leader – can have on his
team.”
Laura Dern, Michael Chiklis and Alexander Ludwig (“The Hunger Games”)
also star in the film, which is being released by Sony Pictures.
Located in the Diocese of Oakland,
the school was founded in 1965 as a Lasallian institution and enrolls 1,039 students. Its colors are green and silver. The
school motto is “Les Hommes De Foi”
(“Men of Faith”).
Carmike Cinemas is located at 1700
Catasauqua Road, Allentown.
Diocese
July 31, 2014
more sessions. I’d retake courses if he
was instructing.”
Another student commented on The
Creed course taught by Heather Maigur.
“The instructor is a treasure to this dioof the faith. You don’t have to join a pro- cese. She is knowledgeable and relatable
gram or become a parish volunteer, just … what a phenomenal combination. She
come and learn.
is an excep“This is a wonderful
tional teacher,
opportunity to broaden
articulate and
To
register
or
for
more
your faith knowledge,
deeply sincere.
information, visit www.
or complete or work
Her methodolallentowndiocese.org/icf or
toward completion of
ogy and orgayour catechist certificontact Secretariat for Cathonization of the
cate, during the relaxed
volume of malic Life and Evangelization,
days of summer.”
terial was outOffice
of
Adult
Formation,
Hartigan noted most
standing. The
610-289-8900 ext. 221 or
of the instructors who
diocese is truly
adultformation@allentownteach in ICF have eiblessed to have
ther a bachelor’s degree
diocese.org.
her representaor master’s degree in
tion as an intheology.
structor.”
Several people who have already takAugust classes will be Saturdays, Aug.
en classes offered their positive input on 9 and 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at:
ICF.
St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, CAT
“The class discussions were enjoyable 2– Classroom Application, Sister Lorand engaging,” said a CAT 2 student.
raine Holzman, a Sister, Servant of the
Two students commented on the Mo- Immaculate Heart of Mary; and ICF 102
rality course taught by Father Eric Gru- – Old Testament, Sister Nancy Iampiber. “Great instructor. This is my final etro, a Missionary Sister of the Precious
course to achieve master catechist. How- Blood.
ever, I would like to take more courses
St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring,
that Father Gruber teaches. Also I love CAT 2 – Classroom Application, Peggy
that the course Place; and ICF 102 – Old Testament, Fawas Saturday ther Kevin Bobbin.
mornings.”
Nativity BVM High School, Potts“You don’t
“Father Gru- ville, ICF 102 – Old Testament, Father
have to join
ber was the best James Ward.
instructor,” said
St. Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven, CAT
a program or
another
stu- 2– Classroom Application, Mary Ellen
become a pardent. “Funny, Johns.
ish volunteer,
humorous, but
To register or for more information,
just come and
very
knowl- including the remainder of the schedule,
learn.”
edgeable and visit www.allentowndiocese.org/icf or
direct … obvi- contact Secretariat for Catholic Life and
ously comfort- Evangelization, Office of Adult Formaable teaching adults. Inspiring to say the tion, 610-289-8900, ext. 221 or adultforleast. Hopefully, he’ll be enlisted to do mation@allentowndiocese.org.
The A.D. Times
Classes
Above, Sara Hulse presents Christian Anthropology as part of the Institute for Catechesis and Formation
(ICF) July 19 at St. Francis of Assisi,
Allentown. (Photos by John Simitz)
Left, Ian Buterbaugh presents The
Creed.
Below, participants glean information
on their faith at a morning session.
Above, Textbooks for Christian Anthropology and The Creed courses.
Right, Ian Buterbaugh answers questions from participants during the session.
Mass for Our Lady of Knock Aug. 23
Holy Family Manor Auxiliary yard sale set for Aug. 8-9
The Auxiliary of Holy Family Manor (HFM), Bethlehem will hold its annual yard sale Friday, Aug. 8 from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
in St. Mary’s Hall at 1200 Spring St., Bethlehem.
Proceeds from the yard sale and all HFM Auxiliary
activities benefit programs and services for residents and
help to support charitable care.
Over the past 50 years, thousands of older adults at
HFM have received quality health care based on the values of Catholic ministry.
Today HFM provides skilled 24-hour nursing care,
short-term rehabilitation, and outpatient therapy by a car-
ing and compassionate team to older adults regardless of
faith tradition.
Holy Family Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
is a division of Catholic Senior Housing and Health Care
Services, Inc. (CSHHCS) and a ministry of the Diocese
of Allentown. Its mission is to provide quality physical,
emotional, social, and spiritual care with respect, dignity
and compassion, to meet the needs of the older adults its
serves.
For more information, contact Rose, 610-965-5595,
ext. 522 or rlance@hfmanor.org, or Ann, 610-997-9409
or aruggiero@cshhcs.org.
The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians will
host a Mass honoring Our Lady of Knock, Saturday,
Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. at St. John Fisher (formerly St.
Andrew), 1329 Third St. Catasauqua.
Celebrant will be Father Eric Gruber.
Our Lady appeared Aug. 21, 1879 in the town of
Knock, Ireland.
People of all ages witnessed an apparition of Our
Lady, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist at the
south gable end of the local small parish church, St.
John the Baptist. Behind them was a plain altar with
a cross and a lamb, with adoring angels.
For more information, call Fran Kramer, 610481-0410.
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The A.D. Times
Diocese
July 31, 2014
Riding for relief in Haiti
By TAMI QUIGLEY
Staff writer
What could be better than biking on
a beautiful trail on a summer morning,
enjoying the beauty of God’s creation all
around you?
How about doing that and helping
those in need?
That’s exactly what you can do by
participating in the Family Bike Ride for
Haitian Medical Mission Saturday, Sept.
13 from 8 a.m. to noon, riding 10 miles
around the scenic and historic Ironton
Rail Trail, Whitehall.
The ride is sponsored by St. Joseph the
Worker, Orefield, which has conducted
an annual medical mission to Delmas,
Port-au-Prince, Haiti since 2010. This is
the second year for the fundraising bike
ride.
The annual one-week primary care
medical clinic cares for 700 to 1,000 patients. Teams have typically been four
doctors, four nurses and four nonmedical
support staff members.
In keeping with Catholic tradition, the
clinic is open to all members of the community regardless of faith. St. Joseph the
Worker partners with Our Lady of Mount
Carmel, Doylestown. Other parishes
have begun to participate as well, and the
goal is to have a medical team on site four
times a year.
The fundraising bike ride provides the
mission team with medicines and supplies necessary for a successful mission.
“The medical mission teams not only
help provide basic medical care, but have
become a witness of faith sharing and
community building,” said Father Andrew Labatorio of SS. Simon and Jude,
the parish that hosts the mission each
year.
“Over the years St. Joseph the Worker
Parish has become a partner, a friend and
a co-worker in keeping hope alive in Hai-
For more information, directions and to register, visit http://
haitimission.weebly.com and
click “Bike Ride” or “Online
Donation.” More information
is also available on the Mission
to Haiti Facebook page, https://
www.facebook.com/pages/
Mission-to-Haiti-St-JosephsChurch/276111929230546?ref_
type=bookmark.
ti,” Father Labatorio said.
“Miracles do happen when we open
our hearts to those in need, and blessings
become abundant when crossing boundaries to care.”
St. Jude is located in one of the poorest sections of Port-au-Prince. The team
serves all the
people of the
surrounding
“Miracles do
community.
happen when
More than
we open our
a half-ton of
hearts to
medicines are
those in need,
contributed
each year by the
and blesspeople of the
ings become
Lehigh Valley.
abundant
The team prowhen crossing
vides primary
boundaries to
care to adults
and children,
care.”
treating conditions including
coughs, colds,
allergies, eye irritations, asthma, malaria,
infections, skin conditions, malnutrition
and parasites.
The team also provides prenatal and
infant care, as well as education on nutrition. All patients receive a 90-day supply
of vitamins, toothbrushes, toothpaste and
reading glasses as needed.
Bike riders will loop the Ironton Rail
Trail twice for a 10-mile ride; it is a family ride, not a race. Participants must bring
and wear a biking helmet. Water and
snacks will be provided. A basket raffle,
fellowship and food will follow the ride
at the start point.
The Ironton Rail Trail is the result of
the former Ironton Railroad being transformed into a multi-use, safe, historic,
year-round recreational resource. Following the scenic Coplay Creek, it loops
through Whitehall Township, Borough of
Coplay and North Whitehall Township.
The ride will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Same-day registration and packet
pickup will be 8 to 9:30 a.m. Tax-deductible donation is adults $30, children $15 and per family $60.
For more information, directions and to register, visit http://
haitimission.weebly.com and click
“Bike Ride” or “Online Donation.”
More information is also available
on the Mission to Haiti Facebook
page,
https://www.facebook.com/
pages/Mission-to-Haiti-St-JosephsChurch/276111929230546?ref_
type=bookmark.
Above, riders enjoy participating in the first fundraising bike ride on the Ironton
Rail Trail, Whitehall Sept. 21, 2013.
Right, a view of the church of SS. Simon and Jude, Delmas, Port-au-Prince
Haiti. The parish hosts the mission each year.
Above, Dr. David Meehan, parishioner of St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield,
treats a young patient in Delmas, Port-au-Prince Haiti during a November 2013
mission trip. The fundraising bike ride Saturday, Sept. 13 will help fund the next
mission. (Photos courtesy St. Joseph the Worker)
Below, Dr. Mike Yannes and St. Joseph parishioner Alan Jeffrey (back to camera) entertain children with candy on “kids day” during the November 2013
mission at the clinic that Father Andrew Labatorio recently built in his parish of
SS. Simon and Jude.
Opinion
July 31, 2014
Junk food, junk sex
“It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other.
Note that I am avoiding the use of the word “pleaWhoever fears God will avoid all extremes” – Ecclesi- sure” in favor of “joy” and “enjoyment.” Pleasure is an
astes 7:18 (NIV).
emotional response to something that feels good. True
Have you ever experienced an ‘aha’ moment when a joy, however, as I believe Aristotle would argue, has to
light bulb seemed to go on inside your head and previ- do with being good.
ously unintelligible information suddenly made perfect
I was recently invited to dinner at the home of longsense? Well, just that sort of thing happened to me many time friends. My hostess proudly served me a bowl
years ago when, for the first time, I read the following of her homemade mushroom soup. I happen to detest
passage from “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis.
mushroom soup, but I ate it with as much apparent rel“You can get a large audience together for a strip- ish as I could muster. When asked if I liked the pièce de
tease act – that is, to watch a girl undress on the stage.
résistance, I truthfully responded, “I have never tasted
“Now suppose you came to a country where you better.” My hostess beamed.
could fill a theater by simply bringing a covered plate
Thus, while my consumption of the mushroom soup
onto the stage and then slowly lifting the cover so as to was by no means a pleasurable experience, it was, to be
let everyone see, just before the lights went out, that it sure, a happy and joyful one. I sacrificed my own percontained a mutton chop or a bit of bacon, would you sonal food preferences for what I knew to be the good
not think that in that country something had gone wrong thing to do, and in this I found true joy. The relish of
with the appetite for food?
that joy lingers to this day, long after the unpleasant taste
“And would not anyone who had grown up in a dif- sensations have faded into oblivion. My friend’s mushferent world think there was something equally queer room soup was more than nutritious. It was “good for
about the state of the sex instinct among us?” (Book III, me” on another level.
Chapter 5).
Since nutrition, rather than enjoyment, is the primary
Reading these words was, quite frankly, more like an purpose of food, does this mean that, in the interests of
electric shock than abrupt illumination. It had never be- nutrition, we can readily dispense with joy in the expefore occurred to me that the
rience of eating? Of course
human sexual drive might
not. If we fail to find enjoysomehow be instructively
ment in our food, it means
Just as junk food is not without negative
compared to the human apthat our food is bad, our
consequences, so too junk sex exacts a
petite for food. The more I
chef is bad or our health is
ponder this, however, the
bad. To put it another way,
heavy price on the couple involved and
more convinced I am that
if Grandma substituted vion society as a whole.
Professor Lewis was defitamin pills and food supnitely on to something.
plements in place of her
Common-sense human
traditional Thanksgiving
biology tells us that the primary purpose of eating is nu- dinner, we would think her mad.
trition. This is obvious from the anatomy and physiology
When it comes to eating, enjoyment and nutrition
of the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines, but it is ought to go hand in hand. Yet, as I have said, nutrition
equally plain all the way down to the molecular level, as remains the primary purpose of eating.
evidenced by the Krebs Cycle (by which cells transform
What happens when we deliberately exclude nutrinutrients into essential energy).
tion from the experience of eating? The result, of course,
Nutrition is a necessary requirement for human exis- is junk food, and, as we have come to understand all too
tence. Thus God, who is infinitely wise, made the activi- well, a steady diet of junk food takes its toll on the huty of eating an enjoyable experience. Few joys in life are man body.
greater than chowing down when we are really hungry.
Empty calories, high sodium and trans fats have led
Yet, despite the delights of fine dining, it is apparent to a host of health problems, including obesity, diabetes,
that nutrition, not joy, remains the primary purpose of high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. More and
eating. Why? The answer is simple.
more we are realizing that foods that tantalize our taste
If we are looking for enjoyment, there are countless buds, but have little or no nutritional value, are a recipe
ways of experiencing it. We might, for example, play for a bitter brew.
tennis, ride a bike, read a book or hear an opera. If, howBelieve it or not, what I have just said with regard to
ever, we are in search of nutrition, there is, in point of eating has its direct parallel in the realm of sexual activfact, only one way in which this is naturally achieved, ity. Please observe.
and that is, of course, through eating.
I think it is entirely reasonable to conclude that the
When all is said and done, nutrition is still the pri- primary purpose of human sexual activity is procreation
mary purpose of eating. Enjoyment, even in the case of – in other words, children. The anatomy and physiology
the most delectable cuisine, is only a secondary effect.
of the human sexual organs make this abundantly clear.
Most urgent need for God’s mercy
In St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 21 verses 33 and
following, Our Blessed Lord teaches us a parable that
is most relevant for today. The parable teaches about a
property owner who planted a vineyard and leased it out
to tenant farmers and went on a journey.
When vintage time came, he dispatched his slaves to
obtain his share of grapes. The tenants seized the slaves
and killed them. The second time he dispatched even
more slaves, but they were also seized and killed. Finally he sent his son, thinking they would respect his
son, and they also killed him.
Like in the parable, God the Father in 1917 sent the
Blessed Mother to the children of Fatima to ask all the
people in the world to pray the rosary every day for
15 minutes for world peace. She told the children that
World War I, which was still raging, would soon end,
but if the people refused her request, there will soon be
another war far worse than World War I.
As in the parable the tenants killed the slaves, so likewise in 1917 people ignored the Blessed Mother’s request to pray the rosary and as a result we entered World
War II.
The Blessed Mother at Fatima also told the children
that dress styles will be introduced that will greatly affect “my Immaculate Heart.” What do we see today?
Women dressed most immodestly.
God is most willing to forgive the very worst of sinners by praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and he will
give them all the grace they need to return to God’s loving embrace in the sacraments. Let us not be foolish like
the people during World War I when God the Father sent
the Blessed Mother to tell the world to spend 10 to 15
minutes every day praying the rosary to prevent World
War II.
The chaplet, which is said on the rosary, may be our
only and lasting hope for peace, before we suffer God
the Father’s just wrath again. Praying the chaplet can
prevent crime. There is no other means to prevent the
many crimes in the streets and communities. Prayer and
only prayer can prevent tsunamis and other floods destroying whole communities like a war zone.
Only prayer can prevent crimes in our streets and
schools like our children being shot and killed in their
schools. Only prayer can stop all street drugs, which destroy the health of millions of people and cause so very
many crimes and killing people.
Prayer also prevents all natural floods and other natural weather problems, and prevents uncontrollable major fires. Before we suffer God the Father’s just wrath
again with the invention of intercontinental missiles and
nuclear bombs, nobody may be safe on this planet Earth.
Our Blessed Lord told Sister Faustina that this is the
time for all to pray for God’s mercy. If we do not pray
the chaplet now after this time of mercy, it will be the
time of God the Father’s just wrath again.
God our Heavenly Father wants every soul he creates
The A.D. Times
By Father Bernard Ezaki, assistant
pastor of the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.
The same is true right down to the cellular level with
respect to the gametes. Why else would sperm and ovum
each have only half the genetic complementarity if they
were not designed for reproduction?
Procreation is clearly necessary for the survival of
our species. That is why an all-wise and all-knowing
God also intended sexual activity to be both a means
to joy and an expression of love. The love and joy of a
happily married couple’s sexual intimacy can hardly be
overstated.
Yet even though love and joy are inherent dimensions
of the conjugal act, it is obvious that the primary purpose
of sex is procreation. Why? Again, the answer is clear. A
husband and wife can express their mutual love and joy
in countless ways.
They can, for instance, exchange gifts, go on a date,
cooperate in achieving a mutual goal, or even sit quietly and comfortably in each other’s presence. If, however, they wish to have children, there is but one way by
which this is naturally accomplished, and that is through
sexual intercourse.
I repeat: the primary purpose of sex is procreation.
Love and joy, even in the case of the most happily married man and woman, are but secondary (though beautiful) effects.
Again, I am purposely using the words “love” and
“joy” rather than “pleasure.” Although conjugal intimacy might not always be appealing, it ought always to
be an expression of love and joy for both husband and
wife – just as food, although not always pleasant tasting,
ought always to be an occasion of joy.
I can, for example, imagine that a wife, on occasion,
might very well feel like avoiding the amorous embrace
of her husband. Yet if she consents to his advances, she
does so out of love for a man in whose tender heart she
has often taken refuge.
She may have at that moment little or no enthusiasm
for his conjugal intimacy, but on some level at least, she
is joyful in his love. Here, then, there is sacrifice rather
than pleasure, and in the sacrifice there is joy.
Since procreation, rather than love and joy, is the
fundamental purpose of sex, does this mean that, for
the sake of procreation, the conjugal act may, on occasion, exclude love and joy? Certainly not. If a husband
and wife find no joy and self-giving love in their sexual
union, something is definitely wrong.
As far as the conjugal act is concerned, an openness
to the transmission of life must always be joined to spousal love and intimacy. Sex involves both babies and the
bonding of husband and wife. The conjugal act must be
Please see JUNK page 8 }}
By Msgr. Anthony Wassel, pastor
emeritus of the former St. Joseph,
Assumption BVM and Sacred Heart
parishes, Mahanoy City.
to be with him in Paradise. He is willing to forgive the
very worst and hardened sinner, and give them all the
graces they need to return to his loving embrace so they
can make a good sincere confession. Let us not be foolish like the people during World War I when God the
Father sent his son’s mother to tell the world to spend 15
minutes every day praying the rosary to prevent World
War II.
The chaplet also gives grace to convert even the worst
of sinners. I had a parishioner who hadn’t been inside a
church since his youth. He had lived a wild life for very
many years. When I heard he had cancer I went to visit
him. The very last person he wanted to see was a priest
coming to his home, where he lived with his mother.
When he saw me coming he ran into the powder room
and stayed there until I left. I went to see him a second
time and he hid again. The third time I went to see him
I waited until he came out of the powder room. After
talking a while with him and his mother and brother, I
simply asked him if he would pray with me. He said OK.
Please see MERCY page 8 }}
7
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The A.D. Times
Diocese
Junk
both procreative and unitive. Nevertheless, the primary
purpose of sexual intercourse is procreation.
What happens when, through contraception, for example, procreation (and hence total spousal self-giving)
is intentionally excluded from the sexual act? The result
is what I would call “junk sex.” Alas, just as junk food is
not without negative consequences, so too junk sex exacts a heavy price on the couple involved and on society
as a whole.
Contraception has led to exponential increases in
sexually transmitted diseases and even certain forms of
cancer. In addition, the pill is known to cause strokes in
otherwise healthy women.
Far more devastating, however, is the unhealthy social fallout. Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical “Humanae
Vitae” predicted that the acceptance of contraception
would mean rampant marital infidelity (along with divorce), the abuse of women, the lowering of societal
moral standards (e.g. more pornography) and mandated
governmental sterilization.
The pontiff was sadly correct in all this. Yet contraception has given rise to other evils as well. Lower
standards of sexual morality have led to millions of un-
Mercy
We prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
He hadn’t been to church for 50 years or more and
he had lived a wild life in those years. A few days later
he called me and told me he wanted to go to confession.
I had another person in the exact same situation, and
after praying the chaplet he later told me he also wanted
to go to confession.
In one of the apparitions of Our Lord to Sister Faustina, Our Lord took Sister Faustina to a room where a
July 31, 2014
wanted pregnancies, which in turn, have sparked the demand for legalized abortion, thus paving the way for the
acceptance of euthanasia.
Contraception and abortion have also contributed to
a vast decline in birthrates in most Western countries,
bringing populations well below replacement levels.
(No wonder Pope John Paul II so consistently decried
“the culture of death”).
Widespread use of the pill has prompted many government officials to include contraception in the category of “women’s health care.” Thus religiously minded
employers are now being required to go against their
consciences to provide contraception and abortifacients
in their health insurance plans. This is an obvious violation of religious liberty.
Most surprising of all, the birth control pill ultimately lies behind the clamor for “same-sex marriage.” As
Mary Eberstadt has shrewdly asked in her book “Adam
and Eve After the Pill,” if through contraception, a married heterosexual couple can have sex that is as exclusive of new life as homosexual acts, why can’t a homosexual pair be given the same legal status as a married
heterosexual couple?
It is becoming abundantly clear that once procreation
is removed from the sexual equation, there is no telling
what the consequences will be. Why not legalized incest,
bestiality or even pedophilia? God forbid. More and
more we are coming to realize that sexual intercourse
that deliberately excludes the possibility of offspring is a
Pandora’s Box containing countless evils.
So what’s with my comparison of junk food and junk
sex? Am I arguing that taking the pill and eating a potato
chip are morally equivalent actions? Am I suggesting
that condoms are on a par with cotton candy? Of course
not.
Nor do I wish to single out anyone for judgment. We
all are guilty of wanting pleasure without responsibility.
Every sin (not just gluttony or lust) is, after all, an illegitimate shortcut.
I am not one to throw stones. It is not my intention to
point an accusatory finger at anyone. I am simply saying, along with C.S. Lewis, that an examination of the
human appetite for food shows us just how disordered
our sexual appetites have really become.
If depriving food of nutritional value has led to serious health consequences, then divorcing sex from procreation will have far more devastating fallout both for
our health and our society.
As the old margarine commercial once put it, “It’s not
nice to fool Mother Nature.”
As the marriage rite declares, “What God has joined,
man must not divide.”
Sex and procreation, like food and nutrition, must always go together.
man was seriously ill and she saw many demons in the
room waiting for him to die so they could take his soul
into hell.
Sister Faustina started to pray the chaplet and all the
demons fled immediately like a flash of lightning. After
she finished the chaplet, the man asked for a priest to go
to confession and died in the peace of Christ.
God the Father said to Sister Faustina, “at the hour
of their death, I defend as my own glory every soul that
will say this chaplet, or when others say it for a dying
person the pardon is the same. When this chaplet is said
by the bedside of a dying person, God’s anger is placated, unfathomable mercy envelops the soul.”
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire every person to pray the chaplet every day.
St. Pope John Paul was a major promoter of the beatification and canonization of St. Faustina and strongly
promoted the chaplet.
Our Lord taught St. Faustina a prayer for mercy that
she was to pray “unceasingly”: the chaplet. He told her
that if she prayed in this way, her prayers would have
great power for the conversion of sinners, for peace for
the dying and even for controlling nature.
For more information on the Diary of St. Faustina,
contact the Marians of the Immaculate Conception,
www.thedivinemercy.org or call 1-800-462-7426.
Diocese
July 31, 2014
Men
Holy Spirit working in your life.”
“Sons in the Son” was the theme of
the second annual event. The diocesan
Office of Vocations sponsored the “Quo
Vadis Days” summer camp, which was
organized by the diocesan St. Andrew’s
Committee.
Quo Vadis drew 27 young men as participants – twice as many as last year –
according to
Msgr. David
James, diQuo Vadis drew
rector of the
27 young men
diocesan Ofas participants –
fice of Vocatwice as many as
tions. “The
overwhelmlast year.
ing request
from
new
and returning campers is that they want a longer
program – four or five days,” he said.
Quo Vadis is a vocations event for
young men, incoming freshmen to rising
seniors, to participate in activities rooted
in prayer, catechesis, evangelization and
mentoring. College students who are discerning a call to the priesthood were welcome to attend as a “team member” and
meet current seminarians.
Additional activities include tug-ofwar, water balloon match, sports and athletics, and board games.
“St. John Paul II taught us so much
about the priesthood. He writes: ‘All
priests must have the mind and heart of
missionaries – open to the needs of the
church and the world,’” Bishop Barres
said in his homily.
“The priests of the Diocese of Allentown have this spirit. They understand
that a deep and disciplined spiritual life
Young men join their voices in the opening prayer during the afternoon liturgy.
nourishes their missionary spirit. They
understand that a missionary spirit nourishes the expansion of their interior life.
You have all experienced this in your parishes. You have all been inspired by their
witness, and that is why you are here at
Quo Vadis.”
Bishop Barres said Pope Francis is
modeling for every Catholic how to live
the parable of the Good Samaritan in the
21st century. “His global outreach to the
poor and those in crisis, the immigrant,
the victims of human trafficking and
abuse, and his efforts to promote a just
peace in the Middle East teaches each of
us about our own responsibility to live
the parable of the Good Samaritan in our
own life context.
The A.D. Times
“He is illuminating a great connection
made by St. John Paul II: ‘Every Mass is
celebrated on the Altar of the World.’ A
deep love for the Mass is key to discovering our vocation and path in life.
“We look forward to the September 2015 World Meeting of Families in
Philadelphia. Dynamic vocations to the
priesthood and religious life emerge from
dynamic Catholic families set on fire by
the holiness of Catholic marriages.
“Any investment in the Catholic family is an investment in vocations to the
priesthood and religious life. In a special
way, we need to all pray for a new harvest of vocations in our Hispanic Catholic families and parishes.”
Msgr. James concelebrated the opening Mass and Deacon Brendon Laroche
assisted.
Then parents and siblings joined the
young men for a barbecue dinner cookout, followed by an information session
led by Father Anthony Mongiello, pastor
of St. Anne, Bethlehem; seminarian David Anthony;
and Robert Olney, coordina“Whatever it
tor of the diocis God is callesan Office of
ing you for
Marriage and
Family
Life
he’ll give you
Formation.
grace.”
The event
included
the
talks “What is Vocation” by Father Allen Hoffa, chaplain of Allentown Central
Catholic High School and Catholic chaplain of Lehigh University, Bethlehem;
and “Sons in the Son” by Father Andrew
Gehringer, regional priest coordinator of
diocesan Hispanic ministry for Lehigh
and Northampton deaneries, and pastor
of St. Paul, Allentown.
Please see MEN page 10 }}
The young men pray The Lord’s Prayer during the opening Mass.
The young men and their families gather for a barbecue dinner cookout after
the liturgy.
Participants and their families listen to Bishop Barres’ homily.
Msgr. David James, right, chats at the barbecue with parents Dan and Maria
Loch and their sons Tyler, second from left and Marcus, center.
9
10
The A.D. Times
Diocese
July 31, 2014
Men
Also, “Prayer: Types and Tips” by Father Thomas Bortz, pastor of St. Ignatius
Loyola, Sinking Spring; “Fruit of Prayer:
Priesthood” by Father Richard James, assistant pastor of St. Thomas More, Allentown; and “Quo Vadis Talk: Where Are
You Going?” by Father Kevin Gualano,
chaplain of Bethlehem Catholic High
School and assistant pastor of St. Anne,
Bethlehem.
Father Kevin Gualano
“Whatever it is God is calling you
for he’ll give you grace,” Father Gualano
said presenting his talk the afternoon of
July 22.
Father Gualano firmly believes God
provides you with life experiences that
will be of great value to you in the path
you ultimately follow.
He said he has fulfilling and rich
memories of working as an EMT with
Suburban Rescue Squad, Easton, for six
years including his years in high school.
He also worked in the professional sec-
Father Richard James presents the talk “Fruit of Prayer: Priesthood” the morning of July 22.
tor and applied to medical school. But the
priesthood was his true calling.
In his talk, Father Gualano recalled
St. Ignatius of Loyola, a soldier, was
wounded in battle and while recovering
read about God “and began some great
meditations.”
“St. Ignatius tells us there is only one
path, and that path leads to God.”
Father Gualano said while navigating
Seminarian David Anthony gathers the participants for a small group session.
Knights presents donation
to Holy Family Manor
Brian Schantz, center, of Knights of Columbus Bishop
Thomas J. Welsh Assembly 931, presents a check for
$3,000 to Holy Family Manor (HFM) Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Bethlehem May 6. Accepting for
HFM are, from left: Erna Karoly and Mary Borrell, Resident Council officers; Susan Regalis, administrator;
and Ann Ruggiero, director of development, Catholic
Senior Housing and Health Care Services, Inc. The
funds were raised by the Knights of Columbus at their
spring gala this past March. HFM will use the funding
to help pay for its new generator, which will provide
full emergency power and ensure the high quality care
that it has been providing for more than 50 years.
a boat, you have to find a fixed horizon
point so you don’t get lost. “St. Ignatius
tells us Jesus is that fixed horizon.”
Father Gualano said St. Augustine
tells us passion is a good thing but not
tempering it can be bad.
“Putting them together, if you’re fixed
on Jesus, you’ll lead a passionate life,”
Father Gualano said.
Father Gualano said it took him two
years to decide to enter the seminary. At
the time, he was working at Dunn and
Bradstreet. He has never regretted his
decision, nor has he found the priesthood
boring.
“When I took that leap of faith toward
the horizon of our Lord my life became
even more exciting,” Father Gualano
said, adding that he found that seminarians “were not walking around chanting
all day in Latin” as he had once thought.
“What does our Lord ask of you? If
it’s the priesthood, I promise you won’t
be happy doing anything else.”
Father Gualano said he entered St.
Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia the same year his best friend entered
a medical school close to St. Charles. “I
went through medical school with him
and he went through the seminary with
me. I realized academically I could have
handled it [medical school], but I wasn’t
passionate about it.
“What I was passionate about was
talking about Jesus and bringing him to
others.”
Father Gualano asked the young men
what they were passionate about, what
stirs in their heart, and said it’s fine if at
this point it’s a sport or other interest. “If
you’re passionate about Jesus, following
him won’t hold you back, it will free you.
If it’s the seminary, you’ll be given grace
upon grace. Do you have the courage to
respond to the call?”
Father Gualano said he didn’t think
the young men would know their path at
the end of the retreat – the answer would
take more discernment and prayer. “But
you will take one step forward into that
beautiful horizon with Jesus as the fixed
point.”
“Have the courage to question the
Lord, ‘where is my path?’ and you’ll have
the courage to move forward.”
Behind Quo Vadis
Deacon Laroche presided at a Holy
Hour with meditation and evening prayer
during the event. Seminarian Albert
Camburn offered the meditation and Father Mongiello heard confessions.
The camp also included a liturgy of
the hours explanation and evening prayer
led by seminarian Stephan Isaac; a rosary
walk and fellowship at the fire; morning
prayer led by seminarian David Anthony;
a rosary workshop led by Father Hoffa;
Mass celebrated by the newly ordained
Father Daniel Kravatz, assistant pastor of
Holy Guardian Angels, Reading; a softball game led by Father Hoffa; and night
prayer led by seminarian John Rother.
Also, outdoor stations of the cross
led by Msgr. James, small group meetings; morning prayer led by seminarian
Christopher Wittensoldner; an Emmaus/
Reflection Walk; and Mass celebrated by
newly ordained Father James Harper, assistant pastor of Notre Dame of Bethlehem.
July 31, 2014
Youth & Young Adults
The A.D. Times
11
Diocesan youth encounter God’s love and mercy at Steubenville
By SUE MATOUR
Coordinator
Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
In the early morning hours of June 20,
approximately 170 youth and their adult
chaperones boarded buses in Reading and
the Lehigh Valley for their annual weekend pilgrimage to Franciscan University
in Ohio for a Steubenville Youth Conference.
“God Is” was the theme for this year’s
20 youth conferences at various locations
in the United States and Canada. Approximately 40,000 youth were expected to
attend these conferences and are invited
into a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ through the sacraments of the
Church and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Participants this year hailed from 10
parishes in the Diocese of Allentown:
Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown; Holy Trinity, Whitehall; Holy
Guardian Angels, Reading; St. Catharine of Siena, Reading; St. Ambrose,
Schuylkill Haven; Most Blessed Trinity,
Tremont; St. Anne, Bethlehem; St. Ignatius of Loyola, Sinking Spring; St. Joseph
the Worker, Orefield; and St. Patrick,
Pottsville.
The group was joined
by clergy and seminarians from the diocese
(Fathers Bernard Ezaki
and Patrick Lamb, Deacon Brendon LaRoche,
and seminarian John
Rother), and several Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Ministry Team
for this year’s conference consisted of worship leader and
Franciscan University professor Bob
Rice; emcee and missionary Ennie Hickman; speaker, musician and retreat leader
Sean Forrest; Franciscan Pathways Director Father Dave Pivonka; Campus
Minister Brian Greenfield; renowned
speaker Sister Miriam Heidland from
the Society of Our Lady of the Most
Holy Trinity; and Father Matthew Rusick, campus minister in Gaming, Austria
and professor in Franciscan University’s
Study Abroad Program.
Throughout the conference, speakers
spoke to the youth about God’s mercy
and love. They challenged youth to be
authentic, powerful witnesses of Christ’s
love to their peers and in their families.
They reassured teens that the sacrament
of reconciliation was available to all, and
Christ desires to meet each of them where
The 170 youth from the Diocese of Allentown who traveled to the weekend youth conference. (Photos courtesy Sue
Matour)
they are and to invite them into a personal
relationship with him.
The highlight for many of this year’s
participants was talks by Sister Miriam,
who spoke to all about the dignity of the
human person, and God’s love and mercy
for each of us.
Saturday evening she challenged the
teens with Jesus’ question to his apostles:
“Who do you say that I am?” and asked
them to think about the questions “Who
is God for you?” and “How do you define
yourself?”
Through media, personal stories and
the beauty of church teaching, Sister
Miriam gave her personal witness to the
power of God’s love in her own life. She
brought the teens and adults to tears by
her powerful evocation of the last book
of “The Chronicles of Narnia” and she
spoke: “Heaven requires a choice. Heaven is intimacy, complete, eternal union
with God who is all beautiful, who is ev-
Some of the thousands of youth attending gathering for conferences and services.
erything we’ve ever longed for. But God
is not going to make us be in union with
him. He allows us to choose.”
She then spoke of the secrets and ad-
dictions that kept her away from the
church, until in her worst moments of
Please see CONFERENCE page 12 }}
Four diocesan youth attend LEAD program
The week prior to the Steubenville Youth Conference, four teens of the
Diocese of Allentown participated in the Franciscan LEAD program: Annie Misterkiewicz and Keaton Eidle of St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring, and Alison
Solari and Kelsea Davis of St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield.
LEAD, which stands for “Leadership, Evangelization and Discipleship,” is
based on the foundation that youth leadership flows from a personal relationship
with Christ.
During the week-long program, teens learn how to evangelize and share their
Catholic faith in the midst of our culture.
“LEAD was an incredible experience,” said Misterkiewicz. “I made lifelong
friendships and grew much closer to God. It was the most amazing week of my
life.”
“The LEAD retreat taught me that there are so many ways to truly live your
faith around those people who don’t understand it … and how to share it with
them,” said Eidle.
“The experience I had at LEAD is too great for words,” said Davis. “I made
bonds that will last forever, gained powerful tools of Catholicism, learned that
faith is an uphill journey, with each of ours being totally unique, and finally understood just how much God loves me.”
Solari said, “There are no words to describe LEAD besides ‘simply amazing.’
LEAD has opened my eyes to ‘giving over receiving’ and a new prayer life that I
never thought I would ever have.”
Taking a break between conferences.
12
The A.D. Times
Youth & Young Adults
July 31, 2014
Cathedral parishioner becomes Eagle Scout, completes bulletin boards
Anthony Pastor Solt, a member of
Troop 74 chartered by the Cathedral of
St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown, earned
the rank of Eagle Scout and was presented with his medal March 22 at a court of
honor at the cathedral.
For his Eagle Scout project, Solt constructed and installed four mahogany
36-by-48-inch enclosed bulletin board
showcases with sliding glass doors, and
purchased and installed one 24-by-36inch enclosed weatherproof bulletin
board for the cathedral.
Solt has been involved in scouting for
more than 12 years. He earned the Arrow
of Light Award, Light of Christ, Parvuli
Dei and International Awareness Religious Awards with Cub Scout Pack 74.
In the Boy Scout program with Troop
74, he earned 37 merit badges, camped
out more than 84 nights, hiked more than
104 miles, biked 30 miles, paddled 20
miles and attended National Youth Leadership Training.
Son of Lee and Betsy Solt of South
Whitehall Township, Solt is a recent
graduate of Allentown Central Catholic
High School and plans to attend Boston
University, Mass., majoring in biomedical engineering. He is a parishioner of the
cathedral and a four-year member of the
Bishops’ Ceremonies Team.
Above, One of the finished bulletin boards at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of
Siena.
Right, Eagle Scout Anthony Solt.
Last summer Theology on Tap Aug. 4
The final session of the Theology on
Tap “Summer Series” will be Monday,
Aug. 4 at Allentown Brew Works, 812 W.
Hamilton St., Allentown from 7 to 9 p.m.
The theme for this series, “What Do
I Know of Holy?”, with guest speakers
from among our diocesan priests, was
chosen after feedback from young adults.
“Holy Actions: Smoke, Bells and
Whistles” will be the topic Aug. 4, presented by Father Francis Nave, pastor of
Sacred Heart, Bath.
Sponsored by the Office of Youth and
Young Adult Ministry (OYYAM), Theology on Tap is designed to allow young
Kickball fest for Lehigh and
Northampton deaneries Aug. 10
All youth grades 6 to 12 in the Lehigh
and Northampton deaneries are invited to
gather for the Annual Kickball Fest Sunday, Aug. 10 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at
Holy Family, Nazareth.
The day will combine faith, food, fellowship and fun with prayer, kickball
games on several fields, and a picnic dinner.
There is no cost to attend, and no
group is too small.
The event is sponsored by the Youth
Ministry programs of the Lehigh/
Northampton Deaneries.
All groups must register by contacting the Office of Youth and Young Adult
Ministry (OYYAM), 610-289-8900, ext.
221 or oyyam@allentowndiocese.org by
Friday, Aug. 1, and prvide the name of
the parish, number of youth, and name
and contact information of the adult
chaperone(s).
Conference
ter this powerful experience, teens and
adults were encouraged to gather in small
groups, “unpack” the evening’s talks and
experiences, and visit the chapel for the
sacrament of reconciliation.
The next morning, two talks, held separately for the young men and women,
focused on the power of virtuous living
in everyday life, and reminded the teens
to never forget that they were made in the
image and likeness of God, and the dignity they carry as sons and daughters of
God.
Drawing upon the chant used during
the 2014 World Cup – “I believe” Father
Pivonka began his Sunday morning homily for the Feast of Corpus Christi with
the words “I believe that we will win as
long as we come before this altar all the
time.”
struggle and despair, she reached out to
a Catholic priest, who revealed Christ to
her through his actions, and showed her
God’s mercy and love, and ultimate plan
for her life.
In addition to talks and workshops, the
conference offered Mass and confession
opportunities, powerful prayer rooted in
the Eucharist, and Eucharistic adoration.
Saturday evening, within a dimly lit
field house, Father Pivonka processed
with the Blessed Sacrament in a golden
monstrance – up and down the aisles
and bleachers – allowing the teens to
see Christ “up close and personal.” Af-
adults (21 to 35 years), single or married,
to come together in a comfortable and relaxed setting to share community, learn
more about their faith and discuss faith
topics relevant to their life experiences.
“This series is intended to draw young
adults more fully into the mystery and
majesty of our faith, and to unpack the
‘why we do what we do’ as Catholics,”
said Sue Matour, coordinator of OYYAM.
For more information, call 610-2898900, ext. 231, visit the web at www.
adoyyam.com, or on Facebook at “Diocese of Allentown Young Adult Ministry.”
Follow the diocesan
Office of Youth and
Youth Adult Ministry
on its Facebook pages:
“Diocese of Allentown
Youth Ministry” and “Diocese of
Allentown Young Adult Ministry”
He then spoke of his travels to a leper
colony, and his ponderings of a question
that was asked of him prior to his trip:
“Are you going to get close?”
Through this story, he related the power of the Eucharist: “The story of our faith
is that we have a God who desires to be
close. God is close … closer than you can
possibly imagine.”
He went on to describe that as humans
we want to be close to others, that when
we’re afraid, when we are happy, when
we’re celebrating, we want someone
close to us, and that “the cool thing about
our Lord is that he always desires to be
close.”
The conference ended with a welcoming of teens to the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood or the religious life.
A large number of young women and
men stood and walked forward. After being thanked for their courage, they were
instructed to pray and listen for God’s
voice.
“I suffer from anxiety, but realized and
now know that God loves me and has my
back and can get me through anything,”
said one diocesan participant.
“Steubenville was one of the greatest
and strongest experiences of my life,”
said another. “It has taught me so much
for which I’m so thankful. I’m a different
person than I was before. If you are reading this, my words to you are to never
give up on God and never be afraid.”
A third student said, “I can’t believe
that no matter how deep in trouble you
are always able to be saved. God is truly
awesome.”
Diocese
July 31, 2014
2014-15 confirmation schedule
All confirmation ceremonies will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Berks Deanery
Wednesday, Oct. 8 – Most Blessed
Sacrament, Bally; St. Columbkill, Boyertown.
Wednesday, Oct. 15 – Immaculate
Conception, Douglassville.
Thursday, Oct. 16 – St. John Baptist
de la Salle, Shillington; St. Benedict,
Mohnton; St. Anthony, Reading.
Tuesday, Oct. 21 – Holy Guardian Angels, Reading; St. Joseph, Reading.
Wednesday, Oct. 22 – St. Margaret,
Reading.
Tuesday, Oct. 28 – St. Peter, Reading.
Wednesday, Oct. 29 – Sacred Heart,
West Reading.
Thursday, Oct. 30 – St. Paul, Reading.
Thursday, Nov. 6 – St. Catharine of
Siena, Reading.
Wednesday, Nov. 19 – St. Ignatius
Loyola, Sinking Spring; St. Francis de
Sales, Robesonia.
Tuesday, April 21 – St. Mary, Ham-
Lehigh Deanery
Wednesday, Dec. 10 – Assumption
BVM, Northampton.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 – St. Thomas More,
Allentown.
Wednesday, Feb. 11 – St. Joseph the
Worker, Orefield.
Thursday, Feb. 12 – St. Ann, Emmaus.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Holy Trinity,
Whitehall.
Wednesday, Feb. 25 – Sacred Heart,
Allentown.
Thursday, Feb. 26 – St. Elizabeth,
Whitehall; Annunciation BVM, Catasauqua.
Wednesday, March 18 – Cathedral, Allentown; St. Paul, Allentown; St. Francis
13
of Assisi, Allentown.
Wednesday, March 25 – St. Joseph,
Coopersburg.
Thursday, March 26 – Assumption
BVM, Colesville.
Tuesday, April 14 – St. Jane Frances
de Chantal, Easton.
Northampton Deanery
Thursday, Nov. 20 – Sacred Heart,
Bath.
Tuesday, Nov. 25 – Our Lady of Mercy, Easton; St. Anthony, Easton.
Tuesday, Dec. 2 – Our Lady of Mount
Carmel, Roseto; Our Lady of Good
Counsel, Bangor.
Thursday, Dec. 4 – Holy Family, Nazareth.
Tuesday, March 3 – St. Theresa, Hellertown; SS. Simon and Jude, Bethlehem;
Sacred Heart, Miller Heights; St. Ursula,
Bethlehem; Holy Ghost, Bethlehem; Incarnation, Bethlehem.
Wednesday, March 4 – Holy Infancy,
Bethlehem.
Thursday, March 5 – St. Rocco, Martins Creek; St. Elizabeth, Pen Argyl.
Tuesday, March 17 – Notre Dame of
Bethlehem.
Thursday, March 19 – Our Lady of
Perpetual Help, Bethlehem.
Tuesday, March 24 – St. Anne, Bethlehem.
Schuylkill Deanery
Thursday, Oct. 9 – Divine Mercy,
Shenandoah; St. Mary, Ringtown; St.
Joseph, Sheppton; Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Mahanoy City.
Tuesday, Oct. 14 – St. Joseph, Ashland; St. Mauritius, Ashland; Our Lady
of Good Counsel, Gordon; St. Joseph,
Girardville; St. Vincent de Paul, Girardville; St. Joseph, Frackville.
Wednesday, April 8 – Most Blessed
Trinity, Tremont; St. Matthew the Evangelist, Minersville; St. Michael the Archangel, Minersville.
Wednesday, April 15 – St. Ambrose,
Schuylkill Haven.
Tuesday, April 28 – St. Richard,
Barnesville; All Saints, McAdoo; St.
John XXIII, Tamaqua.
Wednesday, April 29 – St. John the
Baptist, Pottsville; St. Patrick, Pottsville;
St. Clare of Assisi, St. Clair; Holy Cross,
New Philadelphia; St. Stephen, Port Carbon.
burg; St. Mary, Kutztown
Carbon Deanery
Thursday, April 23 – SS. Peter and
Paul, Lehighton; St. Francis, Nesquehoning; St. Joseph, Summit Hill; St. Katharine, Lansford; Our Lady of Lourdes,
Weatherly.
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The A.D. Times
World
July 31, 2014
Bishops: To end border crisis, address issues forcing people to flee
WASHINGTON (CNS) – To end the ing them back to dangerous situations,
U.S.-Mexico border crisis, the United they should work together to protect them
States must address the flow of illegal from those dangers, including providing
drugs and arms, and the harmful econom- them asylum in neighboring countries
ic policies forcing children and families and in the United States.”
The Pew Research Center estimates
to leave Central America for the United
States, said the chairman of the U.S. bish- that more than 57,500 unaccompanied
ops’ Committee on International Justice children and youths crossed the U.S.Mexico border illegally in the nine
and Peace.
Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines, months between Oct. 1, 2013, and June
Iowa made the comments in a July 24 let- 30, 2014, an increase from 38,700 youths
ter to U.S. Secretary of State John Ker- in fiscal year 2013. Its July 22 report
ry, after a trip he and other bishops and shows that children 12 and older are the
church leaders made to Honduras, Guate- fastest growing group of unaccompanied
minors crossing the border.
mala and El Salvador.
National Catholic leaders have called
In a separate statement, Seattle Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, who heads for a compassionate response to the
youths who have
the U.S. bishops’
crossed the bormigration commitder, many of
tee, urged President
“We must care for the chilwhom are fleeing
Barack Obama and
drug-related viothe presidents of the
dren. Whether we agree with
lence.
three Central Amerithe method or the circumIn his letter
can countries that
stance, the fact is that there
to Kerry, Bishop
Bishop Pates visited
are 52,000-plus children who
Pates said the
to protect and care for
are in our country who are in
United
States
children and families
cannot separate
fleeing violence in the
need right now.”
the
humanitarregion.
ian crisis of many
Bishop Elizondo’s
thousands of unletter was issued a
day before a July 25 meeting in Washing- accompanied minors journeying to the
ton of Obama and Presidents Otto Perez U.S. border from several root causes in
Molina of Guatemala, Salvador Sanchez Latin America, many of which he said are
Ceren of El Salvador and Juan Orlando generated by U.S. policies.
“The crisis on our borders will not be
Hernandez of Honduras.
“The leaders should focus on the pro- minimally resolved until drugs and arms
tection of these children and families, as flows, harmful trade provisions, and other
they are charged with as the heads of their critical economic policies that contribute
nations,” the bishop said. “Instead of co- to violence are addressed and rectified,”
operating on intercepting them and send- Bishop Pates wrote.
Church leaders and U.S. diplomats in
each country his delegation visited, he
said, agreed that long-term resolutions
would only come from investment in
education and jobs.
Bishop Pates said he frequently heard
that the Central American Free Trade
Agreement, known as CAFTA, “and similar trade policies, had devastated small
agricultural producers and businesses in
the region, while depressing labor conditions and wages.”
With regard to the drugs and violence
that often drive people to leave their home
countries, Bishop Pates said the United
States must recognize its “own complicity in this crisis, and support more effective programs that reduce drug usage here
at home.”
“Similarly, the regulation of gun exports, coupled with criminal justice reforms that foster rehabilitation rather than
retribution,” he said, “need to be implemented by our states and our federal government.”
He pointed to another factor he said is
making life intolerable for many in Central America – destructive environmental
impact and public health consequences of
U.S. and Canadian mining companies in
Latin America.
Bishop Pates said the U.S. and Canadian governments need to hold companies with operations in the region to the
same standards of protecting human life
and the environment as they require in
their own countries.
In his statement, Bishop Elizondo
echoed Bishop Pates’ remarks about the
need for a strategy to address “over the
long term ... the violence and lack of
opportunity in the countries of Central
America. Specific attention should be
paid to helping at-risk youth remain safe
and access opportunity at home.”
Bishop Elizondo also reaffirmed the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposition to proposals to amend current
law to speed the deportations of the children without giving them the benefit of
an immigration hearing.
Congress was scheduled to consider
supplemental appropriations legislation
the last week of July to fund the care of
children and families arriving at the border.
In the Diocese of Syracuse, New York,
in an open letter to the community at
large, Bishop Robert J. Cunningham said
the diocese “stands at the ready” to help
temporarily house migrant children from
Central America who are awaiting deportation hearings.
He said he is aware that the issue has
been the subject of intense debate, and
will continue to be in the future, but in
the interim he said the church has an obligation to help.
“In the midst of this debate that will
continue over the course of months,
one fact remains,” Bishop Cunningham
wrote. “We must care for the children.
Whether we agree with the method or
the circumstance, the fact is that there
are 52,000-plus children who are in our
country who are in need right now.”
The U.S. Department of Health and
Human services is considering former
convents and the former Maria Regina
College owned by the Sisters of St. Francis on Syracuse’s North Side as a potential site for temporary housing.
In brief
Catholic agencies were studying President Barack
Obama’s executive order that expands the prohibition on
employment discrimination to include sexual orientation
and gender by the federal government and nonprofit agencies and corporations that receive federal contracts.
The scrutiny comes because the July 21 order does not
spell out a specific exemption for religious organizations
that contract with the government.
Representatives of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services and
the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities told
Catholic News Service the order continues to be reviewed.
The organizations or their members currently hold contracts or have at one time contracted with the government
for services. In some cases, the contracts have been worth
millions of dollars.
The USCCB has been the most vocal of the agencies in
commenting on the executive order. A spokeswoman for
the USCCB said the bishops feared the order would force
the conference to abandon the possibility of applying for
future government contracts because of the employment
requirements.
“We obviously have some trouble with the language of
gender identity and sexual orientation. We feel that’s very,
very broad. It’s ill defined,” said Melissa Swearingen, adviser and spokeswoman for USCCB president, Archbishop
Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky.
“I don’t think our lawyers have finished analyzing if we will
actively lose contracts right at the moment, but certainly it’s
a violation of our religious freedom if we can’t even apply
for anything in the future,” she told Catholic News Service
July 22.
The Obama administration has filed a brief with
the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colo.,
indicating it plans to develop an alternative for Catholic and
other religious nonprofit employers to opt out of providing
federally mandated contraceptives they object to including
in their employee health care coverage.
Several media outlets reported July 23 that the administration said it would come up with a “work-around” that
would be different than the accommodation it currently has
available to such employers.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as
part of the health care law, requires nearly all employers
to cover contraceptives, sterilizations and some abortioninducing drugs for all employees in their company health
plan. It includes a narrow exemption for some religious
employers that fit certain criteria.
Church law has procedures and penalties for effectively dealing with allegations of clerical sexual abuse,
but the Vatican is working to revise a section of the Code of
Canon Law to make those norms and procedures clearer
and, therefore, more effective, said the president of the
Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
“We want to make this delicate material more accessible,
Pope Francis eats with Vatican workers during a surprise visit to the Vatican cafeteria July 25. (CNS
photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)
more understandable and easier for bishops to apply,”
Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, council president, told
the Vatican newspaper.
In the interview published July 24 in L’Osservatore Romano, the cardinal said his office has been working since
2008 to revise “Book VI: Sanctions in the Church,” a section
of the Code of Canon Law.
The Knights of Columbus has pledged $1.4 million
to help cover costs for next year’s Special Olympics World
Games in Los Angeles, Calif.
The donation, announced July 14 in Los Angeles, will
help cover on-the-ground costs for the 7,000 participants
expected to compete in the games.
The contribution covers more than 8 percent of the
Special Olympics’ projected $17 million budget for the
2015 games. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, head of the
fraternal organization, told Catholic News Service the donation would cover the costs of all Americans and Canadians
expected to participate.
The Knights’ affiliation with a sponsorship of Special
Olympics dates back to 1968, the year of the very first
Special Olympics games, conducted at Soldier Field in
Chicago, Ill.
A papal astronomer who made a presentation earlier
this year at DeSales University, Center Valley has won
recognition for his ability to communicate accurately and
clearly the discoveries of planetary science to the general
public.
U.S. Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, a planetary scientist and meteorite expert at the Vatican Observatory, was
awarded the prestigious Carl Sagan Medal for “outstanding
communication by an active planetary scientist,” said the
American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences, which chooses the annual prize winner.
In addition to significantly contributing to the public understanding of and enthusiasm for planetary science, Brother
Consolmagno “occupies a unique position within our profession as a credible spokesperson for scientific honesty
within the context of religious belief,” the division said in a
press release July 2.
A native of Detroit and graduate of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, the Jesuit astronomer has been
at the Vatican Observatory since 1993, where he is now
coordinator for public relations.
Diocese
July 31, 2014
The A.D. Times
15
Church leaders back municipal identification cards
By TARA CONNOLLY
Staff writer
A team of clergy leaders and representatives of Congregations United for
Neighborhood Action (CUNA) met June
12 with members of the Allentown Police Department and City Council to spur
support to
implement
municipal
The cards would
identificamainly benefit the
tion cards.
A t homeless, foster
tending
youth, the elderly
the meetand others who
ing were
may have difficulty Msgr. John
obtaining governGrabish,
ment-issued identi- then pastor
of Sacred
fication.
Heart of
Jesus, Allentown
(now pastor of St. Joseph and St. Paul,
Reading), and a former undocumented
immigrant, Councilwoman Cynthia
Mota.
Another estimated 25 people participated in the meeting at Sacred Heart, including police detective Pedro Cruz as
part of CUNA’s ongoing Campaign for
Citizenship.
During the meeting CUNA and other
leaders asked city officials to support initiating municipality identification cards,
which feature the photo and address of
the cardholder. The cards would allow access to important benefits, such as library,
banking and transportation.
Although available to all city residents, the cards would mainly benefit the
homeless, foster youth, the elderly and
others who may have difficulty obtaining
government-issued identification.
Joshua Chisholm, executive director
of CUNA, said creating a system for residents to obtain identification is one way
Allentown officials can help the vulnerable.
In addition, he said, a growing number
of municipalities have begun to issue the
cards to residents, undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable community
members.
Without valid photo identification,
immigrants are unable to open bank accounts, and parents are unable to enter
Left, Msgr. John Grabish greets parishioners of Sacred Heart of Jesus
after the June 12 meeting.
Below, Hipolita Serrano, left, parishioner of Sacred Heart, addresses the
need for municipal identification cards
in Allentown before, from left, Ruby
Yunez, parishioner of Sacred Heart;
Msgr. John Grabish; and Joshua Chisholm, executive director of CUNA.
their children’s public school buildings
and participate actively in their education.
During the meeting, Chisholm said
among the 10 cities in the country that
have incorporated a municipal identification card program is New Haven Conn.,
which saw a 20 percent drop in crime because immigrants were no longer fearful
to report the crime.
Msgr. Grabish supported the program
and said the cards would assist the police
department and help immigrants become
working
m e m bers of
“Illegal immigrants
the community.
fear communication
“Illewith police could
gal imlead to deportation.
migrants
They become tarf e a r
gets of many violent
c o m municacrimes.”
tion with
police
could
lead to deportation. They become targets
of many violent crimes,” said Msgr. Grabish.
Glen Dorney, Allentown assistant
chief of police, also offered his support
for the program and said the identification
cards would help the department solve
more local crimes.
“I think it would be a fantastic step
that we could take here in Allentown,”
said Dorney.
Mota said that while she is in favor
the idea of a municipal identification program, she would prefer state legislators
act on a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain Pennsylva-
nia Department of Transportation-issued
identification.
She also pointed out that City Council
passed two resolutions in support of comprehensive immigration reform supporting both federal and state legislation.
“It is great that City Council has passed
these resolutions,” said Chisholm.
“What we are looking for now is the
next step, the state won’t move until it
sees its municipalities taking matters into
their own hands,” he said.
Action alert
Urge Congress to protect vulnerable children
The diocesan Office of Government
Affairs has sent this Action Alert from
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Background: Instead of going to
school, playing with friends, and enjoying time with family, tens of thousands
of children from Central America flee
their homes embarking on a dangerous
trek north to the United States. Extreme
violence and the lack of opportunity at
home, and the desire to reunite with parents and other family members, drive
these kids to make the perilous journey
without a parent or guardian. They are all
under age 18.
The number of unaccompanied children crossing the U.S. border has alarmingly increased, doubling every year
since 2011. This year alone, as many as
90,000 children could arrive, creating
a humanitarian crisis in need of our attention. According to the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees, close
to 60 percent are fleeing violence and
have international protection claims.
At the same time, nearly 40,000 young
mothers with children have also entered principles of Catholic social teaching that
the United States and are being placed all people have a right to migrate, but also
in detention centers. They will likely be the right not to migrate and to meet their
exposed to expedited removal from the needs where they are. The U.S. ConferUnited States, without the opportunity to ence of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)/
make their case
Migration and Refubefore an immigee Services (CRS)
gration judge.
provides
extensive
“I will also pray in a special
Recently the
child welfare and other
way for our brothers and sisObama Admincritical services to this
ters, men, women and children
istration requesthighly vulnerable child
who have died of thirst, hunger
ed
additional
population.
or from the exhaustion on the
funding (through
Meanwhile, Cathojourney to find a better life. In
what is referred
lic Relief Services adrecent days we have seen those
to as a “suppledresses the reasons
terrible images of the desert in
mental”) from
children make the perthe newspapers. Let us all pray
Congress
for
ilous journey to the
in silence for these brothers and
fiscal year 2014
United States, implesisters of ours” – Pope Francis
to address these
menting
education,
(Nov. 1, 2013).
concerns. Now
leadership and work
is the time to
skill training programs
raise your voice
to help these kids stay
to help protect these vulnerable children and flourish in their home communities.
and mothers.
It also helps to revitalize economies in
The Catholic Church is responding to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to
the plight of these children based on the provide more economic opportunities.
Add your voice to the call to help children in need today. Contact your senators
and representative and ask them to:
• Oppose the Obama Administration’s
request for “fast track” authority to speed
the removal of unaccompanied children
back to their countries without due process protections.
• Provide adequate funding to protect
unaccompanied children arriving in the
United States and respond to their basic needs, including legal representation
while their immigration case is pending.
• Address the root causes that compel
children to flee their homes by providing
robust funding for targeted development
programs in Central America and Mexico, and a comprehensive regional plan to
address this issue.
• Enable the safe, orderly return and
reintegration of children who are deported to their home communities.
For more information or to send a
message, go to http://www.confrontglobalpoverty.org/ and click on “Current Action Alerts.”
16
The A.D. Times
Diocese
July 31, 2014
Diocese
July 31, 2014
The A.D. Times
17
Pro-life advocate runs for life, literally, in Knights of Columbus race
By TAMI QUIGLEY
Staff writer
The race to save the innocent unborn and respect life
from conception until natural death has been a marathon over the decades, particularly since Roe vs. Wade
in 1973.
DeDe Brown has been running in the trenches of this
fight for life for many years. This year on June 14 she
participated in the first Knights of Columbus Our Lady
of the Sacred Heart Council 4282, Nazareth Run for
Life, which garnered $4,820.70 for life.
The first annual 5K was held at Just Be Natural
(JBN), Bethlehem. The route was a flat, quick track
through Hanover Township.
Half the money raised by the race, $2,410.35 was
presented July 23 to the Mary’s Shelter Cay Galgon
Center, Bethlehem. The center is located at the parish of
SS. Simon and Jude.
It provides housing and social services to young
women who are pregnant and need a supportive environment because of a lack of suitable housing or favorable family relationships. Applicants must be pregnant,
clean and sober, and motivated to actively participate in
the program activities.
“We would just like to thank DeDe Brown and the
Knights of Columbus for all their support,” said Christine Duddy, volunteer coordinator at the Mary’s Shelter
Cay Galgon Center.
“It is very encouraging to have the involvement of
the community and knowing that people are invested
in the babies and women of Mary’s Shelter. There are
things that would not be possible without their help and
support.”
The other half of the money will be sent to Save the
Storks, this year’s designated foundation for Life Runners, of which Brown is a member. Life Runners is a
nationwide organization that dedicates its passion for
running with their passion
for life from conception to
death.
“I can honestly
Save the Storks works
say I felt God’s
to empower every abortionhand in every
minded mother to choose
life and share with them the
single aspect of
news of Jesus.
the race from
“DeDe worked diligently
day one.”
to put together the details
of the race,” said MaryAnn
Kindred, who helped coordinate publicity for the event. She added Brown is the
original founder of the pro-life group at Holy Family,
Nazareth.
Above, Christine Duddy holds Jean Crawford, 2, a resident of Mary’s Shelter Cay Galgon Center, Bethlehem
as she talks to members of Knights of Columbus Our
Lady of the Sacred Heart Council 4282 who went to
the center July 23 to present a check. (Photos by Ed
Koskey)
Right, Rachel Reyes, a resident of the shelter, holds
her 1-week-old son Jo’siah Reyes as she speaks to the
Knights.
“I was humbled and honored to organize this race,”
Brown said.
“I can honestly say I felt God’s hand in every single
aspect of the race from day one,” Brown said. “There
were many obstacles, but he swept each and every one
away with his mighty hand. He also showed his sense of
humor on more than one occasion.
“May he receive all the glory.”
“I’ve been pro-life for as long as I can remember –
even before I knew what pro-life meant,” Brown said.
“I know that sounds crazy, but I was 17 when Roe vs.
Wade was in the news and no one really knew the impact
or what was happening. I asked my mother and knew instinctively that what was happening was wrong.”
Brown said years later people – sometimes people
she hardly knew – would approach her and tell her with
Edward Rosner, grand knight of the council, presents the check to Duddy with,
from left: Knight Randy Brown; DeDe Brown; Knight Bob Favocci and daughters Gina Favocci, 6 and Cindy Fovocci, 3; Knights District Deputy William
Tanzosh; Jean Crawford; Knight Dennis Sullivan; Rachel and Jo’siah Reyes;
and Theresa Meder of the shelter’s support staff. The knights also toured the
home and talked to residents. (Photo by Ed Koskey)
CYO Coaches Clinics for 2014-15
CYO Coaches Clinics for the 2014-15
school year are planned in the following
deaneries.
Lehigh – Saturday, Aug. 23, 1 to 4
p.m., St. Michael the Archangel, Coopersburg; deadline to register Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Berks – Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m.
to noon, Berks Catholic High School,
Reading; deadline to register Wednesday,
Oct. 22.
Schuylkill – Saturday, Nov. 22, 9 a.m.
to noon, St. John the Baptist, Pottsville;
deadline to register Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Northampton – Saturday, March 28,
2015, 9 a.m. to noon, St. Anne, Bethle-
confidence that they had an abortion as if they were confessing to her. “My heart would break and I would speak
out about how wrong it was, but at the same time knew
they were hurting and knew they needed forgiveness.”
Brown and Mary Barket started Consistent
Concern for Life, the pro-life group at Holy Family, circa 1991, when the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was
being voted on.
“The group was very active for several years
but then lost steam, and although I continued – and still
continue – organizing the Life Chain every year the first
Sunday in October, the group itself became inactive.”
That changed recently when Brown asked Jen
Hudak to take over. “She’s done many, many wonderful
things since then.”
Those gathering after the race in June include MaryAnn Kindred and DeDe
Brown, left, and Edward Rosner, center. (Photo courtesy DeDe Brown)
hem; deadline to register Wednesday,
March 25.
All CYO coaches are required to attend a coaches’ clinic within one year of
starting to coach or they will be ineligible
to coach. No walk-ins will be permitted.
Each clinic will give an overview of insurance requirements, sports medicine,
and integration of our Catholic faith and
CYO.
Cost is $25, checks payable to Diocese of Allentown (credit card payment
also available).
A registration form with more information is at http://www.allentowndiocese.org/youth-and-young-adults/cyo/
coaches/. For more information on registration, contact Mary LaBianca, 610289-8900, ext. 221 or oyyam@allentowndiocese.org.
18
The A.D. Times
Diocese
July 31, 2014
Notre Dame High School 2014 graduate publishes first novel
with the problems,
opposition forces
them to stand toLooking for a cool book to add to gether to escape
your summer reading list? Check out darkness and death.
“Cleanse” dives
“Cleanse,” the first novel penned by
Dominic Civitella, a 2014 graduate of deep into the recesses of human
Notre Dame High School, Easton.
“From the start, I knew that with my darkness and evenbook I wanted to show that people who tuating light. A
are struggling can lead better, happier tale of failure and
despair
lives, and to achieve that, they need the triumph,
courage to let go of the hatred within and hope, dark
them and begin to open their hearts,” said and light, Wilson
Civitella, who is headed to Slippery Rock and company must
University this fall to major in creative choose between a
life of hatred and
writing.
“I believe that God is fundamental in misery or a life of
love and happiness.
that process.”
“Before I started
Civitella is the son of Michael and Allison Civitella, parishioners of St. Jane the novel, I read a
Frances de Chantal, Easton. He is also a lot of books.” said
graduate of the parish school, which he Civitella. “While
a lot of them were
says he “loved.”
Offering a synopsis of the novel, Civi- good, I never really
tella said a group of five strangers, led by found the type of Dominic Civitella
16-year-old Wilson Harper, awake in an- story that I wanted novel, “Cleanse.”
other, uncanny world. Despite their dif- to read most. So I
ferences, they must come together to face asked myself, why
the most feared monster – the one within don’t I write it myself?”
Civitella said that also, around the
them.
During their journey home, the issues same time, he had to read a novel for
within them evolve into conflicts with class that had a shiny awards symbol on
each other as their pasts are explored, re- the cover. “While I was reading, I thought
vealing unique connections. As they deal about how I couldn’t possibly think of a
more boring book to
read. So again I thought,
why don’t I write a book
“Cleanse” is available on Amazon, but will
myself? This book won
also be available on Kindle in early August.
an award and I know I
More information about the book and where could write something
more interesting than
to purchase it can be found on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/cleansebook and this.”
So Civitella started
Twitter http://twitter.com/rustedmittens.
writing the book that,
quite simply, he would
By TAMI QUIGLEY
Staff writer
Pope
Vatican spokesman, said July 25 Pope
Francis has expressed “his willingness
to participate in the World Meeting of
Families” in Philadelphia, and has received invitations to visit other cities as
well, which he is considering. Those invitations include New York, the United
Nations and Washington.
“There has been no official confirmation by the Vatican or the Holy See of
Pope Francis’ attendance,” the archdiocese said in a statement. “We still expect
that any official confirmation will come
approximately six months prior to the
event.”
want to read.
“Of course, as
I put more thought
into it, there were
many things that
inspired me to keep
writing. I wanted
to send a good
message and live
out the American
Dream by showing
that somebody of
my age – I was 16
at the time – could
create a product
that other people
would want to buy,
and hopefully enjoy, all the while
taking something
positive away from
the book,” Civitella
said.
“I wanted as
many people as
displays his first possible to read the
book and have it
change their lives
for the better, even
if it was only in the smallest of ways.”
Civitella explained he incorporated
many religious aspects into “Cleanse,”
though tried to be subtle about it. “I want
readers to really think about the situations on a deeper level and realize what
I’m trying to get at and what I’m trying to
teach with certain situations.”
“There are times when the characters
utterly fail to reflect Jesus through their
actions, but then there are times when
they succeed beautifully in doing so. It’s
all about choosing love over hate and doing what Jesus would do rather than giving in to the hate within us.”
Civitella said there are key situations
in the book where the characters have
to make tough decisions. Through these
decisions, Civitella tries to demonstrate
what you should do, what you shouldn’t
do and the outcome of both paths. “I was
not subtle about one belief held by myself
and the church,
h o w e v e r.
There’s a situa“My faith
tion in the novel
that shows a
was an imclear
disdain
portant part
for abortion and
in writing
promotes a prothe book.
life message.
There were
“Also, my
faith was an
many times
important part
that I turned
in writing the
to God and
book.
There
asked him
were
many
for guidtimes that I
turned to God
ance.”
and asked him
for guidance.”
Civitella,
youth group member at St. Jane, attended
the “Rise Up” rally for youth in the Diocese of Allentown March 29 at Allentown
Central Catholic High School. He said
it was one of his greatest experiences of
faith in a subsequent article in The A.D.
Times..
“It reinforced certain aspects of my
faith and was a positive reminder of why
and how we should all ‘rise up’ and act the
way God calls us to,” Civitella said then.
“I would encourage all young Christians
to attend next year.’
Civitella published the book through
CreateSpace, an Amazon company.
“Cleanse” is available on Amazon,
and will also be available on Kindle in
early August. More information can be
found on Facebook http://www.facebook.
com/cleansebook and Twitter http://twitter.com/rustedmittens.
It said Archbishop Chaput “has frequently shared his confidence in Pope
Francis’ attendance at the World Meeting
and his personal conversations with the
Holy Father are the foundation for that
confidence.”
“We are further heartened and ex-
cited” by Father Lombardi’s comments,
it added. “While Archbishop Chaput’s
comments do not serve as official confirmation, they do serve to bolster our sincere hope that Philadelphia will welcome
Pope Francis next September.”
Diocese
July 31, 2014
The A.D. Times
19
Death
Father Czartorynski, served as military chaplain
Father
David
Czartorynski,
57,
died July 20 at his
home in Seffner, Fla.
A native of Reading, Father Czartorynski was the son
of the late Francis
(Frank) and Rose
(Mietelski) Czartorynski.
He attended St. Mary School, Reading; Reading Central Catholic High
School; and Reading Area Community
College. He received a bachelor of science degree in counseling from the University of Scranton.
Father Czartorynski studied for the
priesthood at St. Pius X Seminary, Dalton and Mary Immaculate Seminary,
Northampton, where he received a master’s degree in divinity.
He was ordained May 12, 1984 by
Bishop Thomas Welsh at the Cathedral of
St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.
Father Czartorynski’s first priestly
assignment was assistant pastor, St. Michael, Lansford, followed by assistant
Death
Jesuit Father Harry Akers
Father Harry (Bert) Akers, a priest of
the Society of Jesus, died July 17 at Jesuit
Center, Wernersville, where he served as
pastoral minister.
He was born Aug. 31, 1930 in Baltimore, Md., son of the late Harry and Mildred Stephens Akers, and graduated from
Loyola High School, Towson, Md.
He entered the Society of Jesus July
30, 1948 at the Novitiate of St. Isaac
Jogues, Wernersville; pronounced his
first vows July 31, 1950; and made his
final profession Aug. 15, 1965. He was
ordained June 26, 1961 at Trinity Church,
Innsbruck by Bishop Paul Rusch.
He received bachelor of arts and licen-
Deaths
She also served in Harrisburg, and as a
superior in Immaculata and Florida.
Surviving is a brother John Pepper,
Tuscon, Ariz., nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated June 12 at Camilla Hall, Immaculata.
Religious sisters
Sister Joanna Mary Pepper, 101, a
Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary, died June 9 at Camilla Hall, Immaculata.
Born Elizabeth Pepper Nov. 14, 1912
in Ashland, she was the daughter of the
late John and Ann Connor Pepper and attended St. Joseph Church, Ashland.
Sister served as teacher and principal
in high schools in the Dioceses of Philadelphia, Arlington, Va. and Miami, Fla.
Sister Madeleine Marie Sautter, 87,
a Sister of Mercy, died June 12 at McAuley Convent, Merion Station.
In the Diocese of Allentown Sister
taught at Allentown Central Catholic
High School. She also ministered in the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Diocese
of Richmond, Va.
Her ministry included teacher, vice
pastor, Immaculate Conception, Jim
Thorpe.
He also held the auxiliary diocesan assignments or regional director for youth
ministry, Carbon County, and regional
director, Catholic Youth Organization,
Carbon County.
Father Czartorynski was named chaplain, U.S. Air Force by the Archdiocese
for Military Services, USA in 1987.
Surviving are sisters, Terry Czartorynski and Linda Miller, both of Reading;
nieces and nephews. He was preceded
in death by twin infant brothers, Richard
and Robert, and a sister, Rita.
Mass of Christian Burial for Father
Czartorynski was celebrated July 26 at
St. Mary, Reading by Bishop of Allentown John Barres. Homilist was Cistercian Father Aidan Logan, Office of Vocations, Archdiocese for Military Services.
Main concelebrants were Bishop Richard Higgins, auxiliary bishop, Archdiocese for Military Services; Msgr. Gerald
Gobitas, secretary for clergy, chancellor
and rector, Holy Family Villa for Priests,
Bethlehem; Father Leo Stajkowski, pastor, St. Mary, Reading; and Father Logan.
Interment took place in St. Mary Cemetery, Reading.
tiate degrees in philosophy from St. Louis University, Mo.; did theological studies
at Jesuitenkolleg, Innsbruck, Austria; and
received a doctorate in sacred theology
from Woodstock College, Md.
Father Akers served as professor and
chairman, theology department, University of Scranton; director, radio and television, St. Louis University; secretary,
Jesuit Conference, Washington, D.C.;
teacher, communication arts, Loyola
University, Chicago, Ill.; communications, John XXXIII Ecumenical Center,
St. Louis; director, radio and television,
Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas;
professor, communications, University of
Scranton; and professor, philosophy and
religious studies, Wheeling Jesuit University, W.Va.
He was associate pastor at St. Mary
Star of the Sea, Ocean City, Md.; Holy
Trinity, Washington, D.C.; and Immaculate Conception, Baltimore, Md.
Surviving are nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated July 21 at the Jesuit Center, with burial
in the Jesuit Center Cemetery.
principal, prefect of discipline, principal, leadership team, administrator of the
motherhouse, and volunteer. Sister retired to McAuley Convent in 2011.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated June 16 at the Convent of Mercy Chapel, Merion Station. Burial was June 17
in the community’s cemetery.
She also served in the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia, Diocese of Scranton, and in
California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode
Island, South Dakota and Virginia.
During her ministry, she served as a
nurse aide, lab aide, medical technologist, lab supervisor, elementary teacher,
clerical worker, retreat team member,
receptionist, sacristan, coordinator of
parish programs, archive aide, tutor and
resource teacher.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated July 18 at Sacred Heart Convent
Chapel, Mount Alvernia, Reading, with
burial in the congregation’s cemetery.
Sister Reginata Nowicka, 84 of the
Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Third Order Regular of St. Francis, died July 15 at
St. Joseph Villa, Reading.
Sister served in the Diocese of Allentown at Sacred Heart, St. Elizabeth Infirmary and St. Joseph Villa, all in Reading.
Mercy Special Learning Center gala and auction set for Nov. 1
“The Brightest Lights of Broadway”
will be the theme of this year’s gala
and auction for Mercy Special Learning
Center, Allentown, also celebrating the
school’s 60th anniversary.
The event will be Saturday, Nov. 1 at
the Holiday Inn Conference Center, Fo-
gelsville.
“Angel of Mercy” honoree this year
will be William Straccia Sr.
Another highlight of the evening will
be a musical performance by a group of
students known as the Mercy Magical
Movement Dancers.
Mercy is a diocesan school and the
only private, nonresidential school for
children and young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in
the Lehigh Valley.
For more information on the gala,
contact event co-chairs Paula Krajsa,
thepaulacollection@yahoo.com or MaryBeth Straccia, deeer@aol.com.
For more information on Mercy, contact Tom Harper, advancement director,
tharper@mercyspeciallearning.org,
or
visit www.mercyspeciallearning.org.
Sign up to receive Catholic Advocacy Network action alerts at pacatholic.org, “Subscribe,” “Advocacy Alerts”
and click on the words “Sign Up.” Receive alerts for one, two or all the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference’s important public policy issues: Cathlolic education, religious liberty, life and dignity, marriage and family, social
justric, health care, and faith and politics.
20
The A.D. Times
Diocese
July 31, 2014
Holy Guardian Angels student competes at National History Bee
By TARA CONNOLLY
Staff writer
A seventh grade student of Holy
Guardian Angels Regional School, Reading finished in the top 10 at the Philadelphia Regional National History Bee April
21, earning himself a spot at the June 7
National History Bee in Atlanta, Ga.
Ethan Stoney placed in the top level
among more than 100 contestants from
Pennsylvania and surrounding states, and
went on to compete against students from
across the country.
“It was a great experience. I basically
read every history book I could get my
hands on to prepare for the competitions,” said Stoney.
In the weeks leading up to the finals,
Stoney read books, practiced and even
opted out of recess
to study with history
teacher Cynthia John“I plan on
son.
reading
At the regional
as many
competition he particibooks as I
pated in three rounds
of 30 questions. Stoney
can. I will
answered eight quesbe back
correctly before
next year.” tions
all 30 questions were
asked and he was able
to max out. He maxed
out in all three rounds and was the only
competitor to do so.
His road to the national competition
began by scoring a 97 percent on an online test to qualify for nationals.
Ethan Stoney, right, student at Holy Guardian Angels Regional School, Reading, joins his history teacher Cynthia Johnson at the National History Bee in
Atlanta, Ga.
During the national competition,
Stoney said the questions and buzzer for-
mat were a bit more difficult.
Earning his way through five pre-
liminary rounds,
Stoney was able Ethan Stoney
to correctly anplaced in
swer most of the
the top level
questions, including what year among more
George
Pickett than 100 conwas demoted for testants from
attending a fish
fry during the Pennsylvania
and surroundBattle of Five
Forks.
ing states
“I look for and went on
clues in questions. to compete
Even though I
didn’t know any- against students from
thing about his
demotion, I knew across the
the battle hap- country.
pened in 1865,”
said Stoney.
Lori Stoney, Ethan’s mother, said her
son would not have made it so far without
the dedication of Johnson and his fellow
classmates.
“She supported Ethan through the entire process, helping him to study and allowing other classmates to practice with
him. She went so far as to attend nationals
with us. We are very grateful for her support,” she said.
Although Stoney was unable to amass
a certain number of points or max out
with 10 correctly answered questions
during the championship round, he is not
discouraged.
“I plan on reading as many books as I
can. I will be back next year,” said Stoney.
Bethlehem Catholic senior captures first place in pro-life essay contest
By TAMI QUIGLEY
Staff writer
Brandon Spence, a senior at Bethlehem Catholic High School (Becahi), put
his pro-life views into writing and garnered an award for his efforts.
Spence earned first place in the senior
high division of the 2014 Pennsylvania
Pro-Life Federation Student Essay Contest with his essay “The Inalienable Right
to Life.”
His essay was chosen from approximately 300 essays submitted by pro-life
students across Pennsylvania. He received a cash prize, and his essay will be
published in the Federation’s “LifeLines”
newspaper.
Spence explained participation in the
contest was an assignment for his
theology course at
Becahi. “I wrote
what I did the way
I did because I felt I
could present a more
systematic argument
by which the flaws
in the ideological
aspects of the prochoice
argument
could be highlight- Spence
ed,” he said.
“My mother, Sandra Spence, is a member of SS. Philip and
James, Phillipsburg, N.J.”
Spence attended SS. Philip and James
School from kindergarten through eighth
grade.
He was a member His essay
of the National Honor
Society, participated in was chosen from
the Pennsylvania Math
League, the Junior
approxiEngineering Technimately
cal Society, and was
300 essays
on the chess team. He
also tutors at Becahi submitted
and at home. Last year by pro-life
he was a member of
students
Big Brothers/Big Sisacross
ters.
Pennsylva“We were so very
nia.
excited that he won,
and are so very proud
of him,” said Sandra Spence.
“Brandon is a top student and was the
salutatorian of the class of 2014. He has
been the ideal student while attending
Bethlehem Catholic,” said Principal John
Petruzzelli.
“He aspires for excellence in his academic work and is a well-rounded young
man. I was not surprised that someone of
Brandon’s character was the winner of the
2014 Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
Student Essay Contest,” Petruzzelli said.
“He is a respectful young man who has
been a role model for others during his
time at Bethlehem Catholic. He understands how all people should be treated
and is not afraid to stand up in instances
when people are not treated respectfully.”
Spence plans to study mathematics at
Villanova University, Philadelphia.
Diocese
July 31, 2014
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. Timespublishes 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.
Please do not send items again after they are published.
For more information, call 610-871-5200, ext. 264 or e-mail
adtimes@allentowndiocese.org.
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 p.m., adults
$6, children $3, 610-266-0695, October to April.
■■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.
■■Filipino Mass, Barnabite Spiritual Center, Bethlehem, 5 p.m.
(during winter 3 p.m.).
Third Sundays
■■Breakfast, St. Joseph, Summit Hill, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., adults
$7, children 7-11 $3.50, under 7 free, no breakfast July or
December.
Fourth Sundays
■■Breakfast, Assumption BVM, Northampton, 8 a.m.-noon,
adults $6, children $3.
610-867-8890.
Way, Bethlehem, 610-797-7403, hogpi@hotmail.com.
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 and fourth Saturdays
■■Sacrament of Reconciliation, Barnabite Spiritual Center,
Bethlehem, 11 a.m.-noon.
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 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 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.
■■Scripture Class with Father Paul Marconi, Barnabite Spiritual
Center, Bethlehem, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 610-691-8648.
■■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.
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, parish hall, 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.
Mondays
■■Eucharistic Adoration, Incarnation of Our Lord, Bethlehem,
after 8 a.m. Mass until 3 p.m. followed by Divine Mercy Chaplet
and concluding with benediction, also Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Fridays.
■■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.
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 Thursdays
■■Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Barnabite Spiritual Center, Bethlehem, 7-9 p.m.
Second Mondays
■■Bible Reflection Group, Father Ciszek Center, 233 N. Jardin
St., Shenandoah, 1-2 p.m., 570-462-0826, 570-590-5227.
Fridays
■■Divine Mercy Chaplet, Bernardine sisters and associates, Father Ciszek Chapel, Shenandoah, 3 p.m. (except during Lent).
■■“Bukas Loob sa Diyos” (BLD), spiritual group encounter,
Barnabite Spiritual Center, Bethlehem, 8 p.m.; first Fridays
include Mass and rosary.
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.
Last Mondays
■■Mass and Veneration of Relic St. Pauline Visintainer, Our
Lady’s Chapel, St. Patrick, Pottsville, 5 p.m.
Tuesdays
■■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.
Center, Bethlehem, 7-9 p.m., 610-691-8648.
■■“Transitions,” peer support for separated/divorced meeting,
new location St. Catharine of Siena, Reading, 7:30-9 p.m.,
610-823-3886 or 484-706-0729.
First Tuesdays
■■“Simply Prayer” mornings of prayer, reflection and sharing,
St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 9:30 a.m.-noon,
The A.D. Times
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 or 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.
Third Thursdays
■■Caregiver Support Group, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall, 7:30-9 p.m., register 610-504-8079.
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.-5p.m.
Second Fridays
■■Holy Mass with St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria Medical Society,
Barnabite Spiritual Center, Bethlehem, 7 p.m.
Saturdays
■■Holy Hour for Our Country, Adoration Chapel, St. Francis of
Assisi, Allentown, noon.
First Saturdays
■■Holy Hour for Vocations, Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena,
Allentown, begins with 8 a.m. Mass (except May and June).
■■Catholic Pizza, St. Stephen of Hungary, 510 W Union St.,
Allentown, pickup 2-7 p.m., plain $12, toppings $2 each, orders
must be placed by Thursday of that week, 484-272-2007,
catholicpizza.com.
■■Devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, 4:05 p.m.
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
Third Saturdays
■■St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria Medical Society meeting, Barnabite Spiritual Center, Bethlehem, 1:30-3 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 1
■■ Golden Hawk Golf Classic, Bethlehem Municipal Golf
Course, four-man scramble format, shotgun start 8 a.m.,
registration begins 7 a.m., 610-866-0791, ext. 323, lmergel@
bethlehemcatholichs.org.
■■ Diocese of Scranton Catholic Charismatic Conference
2014, University of Scranton, through Sunday, Aug. 3, advance $50, after Thursday, July 17 $65, 570-344-2214, www.
ccrscranton.org.
Saturday, Aug. 2
■■Garage Sale, social hall, Queenship of Mary, Northampton,
enter back of church, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
■■First Saturday Mass, Serra Club of Reading, Holy Guardian
Angels, Reading, 8 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 3
■■Car Wash Fundraiser, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, at
Tippy’s Car Wash, Sumner Avenue, Allentown, 9:30 a.m.-4:30
p.m., $7 (Tippy’s will donate $3), rain date Sunday, Aug. 10.
Monday, Aug. 4
■■Golf and Tennis Classic, Mercy Special Learning Center,
Allentown, at Brookside Country Club, Macungie, 7:30 a.m. or
12:30 p.m. shotgun start (or both), one round $175, two rounds
$280, tennis $90 per player, 610-797-8242, ext. 14, tharper@
mercyspeciallearning.org, www.mercyclassic.com.
■■“Holy Action: Smoke, Bells and Whistles,” presenter Msgr.
Francis Nave, Theology on Tap, Diocese of Allentown Office
of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, at Allentown Brew Works,
812 Hamilton St., Allentown, www.adoyyam.com, oyyam@
allentowndiocese.org.
Friday, Aug. 8
■■ Yard Sale, St. Mary’s Hall, Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem,
9 a.m.-3 p.m., also Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 610-965-5595, ext.
522, rlance@hfmanor.org, 610-997-9409, aruggiero@cshhcs.
org.
Saturdays, Aug. 9
■■ Prayer Pilgrimage, Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, Mass
8 a.m., Notre Dame of Bethlehem, celebrant Msgr. Andrew
Baker, followed by rosary at Allentown Women’s Center, 31 S.
Commerce Way, Bethlehem, the most active abortion facility in
the Lehigh Valley, hogpi@hotmail.com, 610-674-6424.
Sunday, Aug. 10
■■ Polka Mass, Festplatz (Polka Tent), Musikfest, Bethlehem,
10 a.m., sponsored by Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown.
■■ Kickball Fest, for youth grades 6-12 in Lehigh and
Northampton deaneries youth ministry, Holy Family, Nazareth,
1:30-5:30 p.m., register 610-289-8900, ext. 221, by Friday,
Aug. 1.
■■Society of St. Vincent de Paul Picnic, for volunteers who
dedicate their time to helping those in need, Fairview Park,
Easton, 1:30-4 p.m., rain or shine; food, soft drinks and games
provided; RSVP jkostura@verizon.net or 610-253-4451 by
Sunday, Aug. 3.
Tuesday, Aug. 12
■■ Forks of the Delaware Serra Club, St. Francis Retreat
House, Easton, Mass 6:15 p.m., dinner 7 p.m. (reservations
640-252-3340), celebrant and speaker Father Stan Moczydlowski.
Thursday, Aug 14
■■Seminarian Picnic, Serra Club of Reading, St. Mary, Kutztown, 6 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 15
■■ Crab Dinner, Shrine of St. Therese at Madonna Hall, 331
Angelini Ave., Nesquehoning, 3:30-6:30 p.m., $10, 570-6696075, proceeds benefit Shower of Roses.
■■ New Jersey Catholic Charismatic Conference, Immaculate
Heart Academy, Township of Washington, Bergan County, N.J.,
7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 1:30 p.m., 973-448-8847, NJCCRC.org.
Sunday, Aug. 17
■■ Holy Family Manor Golf Tournament, Bethlehem Golf Club,
registration 11:30 a.m., shotgun start 1 p.m., $100 per person,
610-997-8409, aruggiero@cshhcs.org, www.cshhcs.org/
events.
Tuesday, Aug. 20
■■ Allentown Serra Club, St. Thomas More, Allentown,
speaker diaconate candidate Maurice Kelly from Ireland.
Saturday, Aug. 23
■■ “The King’s Men Come and See Event,” adult men’s formation and accountability group, rectory, Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown, 9-11:30 a.m., mflf@allentowndiocese.
org, 610-289-8900, ext. 224.
■■ CYO Coaches Clinic, diocesan Office of Youth and Young
Adult Ministry, at St. Michael the Archangel, Coopersburg, 1-4
p.m., $25, oyyam@allentowndiocese.org, 610-289-8900, ext.
228.
■■ Feast of Our Lady of Knock, Ladies Ancient Order of
Hibernians, Lehigh Division I, at St. John Fisher, Catasauqua
(formerly St. Andrew), 4 p.m., 610-481-0410.
■■ “Awesome August Oldies Dance,” social hall, St. John the
Baptist, Allentown, 7-10 p.m., $5, BYOB, 610-432-0034, 610432-3505.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
■■ Forks of the Delaware Serra Club, St. Francis Retreat
Please see CALENDAR page 22 }}
21
22
The A.D. Times
Diocese
Calendar
House, Easton, adoration and rosary 6:15 p.m., dinner 7 p.m.
(reservations 640-252-3340).
Thursday, Aug. 28
■■Serra Club of Reading, Sacred Heart Villa, Reading, Mass
6 p.m., followed by dinner meeting, speaker Father Gregory
Karpyn.
Saturday, Sept. 6
■■ Matthew J. Spade Golf Tournament, benefit Allentown Central Catholic High School, Locust Valley Golf Club, Coopersburg, shotgun start 8 a.m., 610-928-0560, annecatino@yahoo.
com, matthewspade.webs.com,.
Sunday, Sept. 7
■■Hot Dogs and Hymns, fundraiser for St. Francis Home, Shillington, nonprofit home for terminal-care children and adults, at
St. Benedict Picnic Grounds, Plowville, 2-6 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 8
■■ “The Gospel of Matthew,” Bible study, Assumption BVM,
Bethlehem, 1-2:30 p.m. Coll Room, 6:30-8 p.m. Finnegan
room, 610-867-7424, ext. 12, ldurback@gmail.com.
Tuesday, Sept. 9
■■“St. Paul and the New Testament Letters,” Bible study,
rectory basement, St. Paul, Allentown, 8:30-11 a.m., 610-7979733, ext. 14, ldurback@gmail.com.
■■ “The Joy of the Gospel,” five-week book discussion Series,
rectory basement, St. Paul, Allentown, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 610797-9733, ext. 14.
■■Forks of the Delaware Serra Club, St. Francis Retreat House,
Easton, Mass 6:15 p.m., dinner 7 p.m. (reservations 640-2523340), celebrant and speaker Father Stan Moczydlowski.
Wednesday, Sept. 10
■■ “The Gospel of Matthew,” Bible study, Assumption BVM,
Bethlehem, 10-11:30 a.m. Finnegan room, 610-867-7424, ext.
12, ldurback@gmail.com.
■■“St. Paul and the New Testament Letters,” Bible study, rectory basement, St. Paul, Allentown, 7-8:30 p.m., 610-797-9733,
ext. 14, ldurback@gmail.com.
Saturday, Sept. 13
■■ Bike Ride Fundraiser for Medical Mission to Haiti, St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield, on Ironton Rail Trail, Whitehall, 9:30
a.m., registration 8-9:30 a.m., adults $30, children $15, family
$60, haitimission.weebly.com, click “Bike Ride.”
Sunday, Sept. 14
■■ Breakfast, Knights of Columbus Council 14847, Holy
Guardian Angels, Reading, 7:30-11:30 a.m., $8.
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,
stfranrh@rcn.com, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Friday, Aug. 1 – Sunday, Aug. 3
■■“Caring for God’s People in the Spirit of St. Francis: Pope
Francis and Dorothy Day,” St. Francis Retreat House, Easton,
$195, 610-258-3053, ext. 10, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
■■“Women of Grace Retreat,” Malvern Retreat House, 610644-0400, www.malvernretreat.com.
■■ Retrouvaille Marriage Program, Family Life Center, Malvern
Retreat House, 1-800-470-2230, www.helpourmarriage.com.
■■ “Praying with Icons,” St. Francis Retreat House, Easton,
$195, 610-258-3053, ext. 10, stfranrh@rcn.com, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Thursday, Sept. 11
■■ “Women’s Evening of Reflection,” Malvern Retreat House,
6-9:30 p.m., $35, 610-644-0400, www.malvernretreat.com.
Friday, Sept. 12 – Sunday, Sept. 14
■■ Autumn Women’s Retreat, St. Francis Center for Renewal,
Bethlehem, $170, 610-867-8890, stfranciscenter@gmail.com,
www.stfranciscenterforrenewal.org.
Friday, Sept. 19 – Sunday, Sept. 21
■■ “Francis of Assisi – A Wounded Warrior,” men’s retreat, St.
Francis Retreat House, Easton, $165, 610-258-3053, ext. 10,
stfranrh@rcn.com, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Friday, Oct. 3 – Sunday, Oct. 5
■■ “Journeying with Pope Francis,” St. Francis Retreat House,
Easton, $165, 610-258-3053, ext. 10, stfranrh@rcn.com, www.
stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Thursday, Oct. 16
■■ Franciscan Solitude Day, St. Francis Retreat House,
Easton, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., $25, 610-258-3053, ext. 10, stfranrh@rcn.com, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
July 31, 2014
Friday, Oct. 17 – Sunday, Oct. 19
■■ “It’s A Gift to be Simple,” women’s retreat, St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, $165, 610-258-3053, ext. 10, stfranrh@
rcn.com, www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Friday, Nov. 7 – Sunday, Nov. 9
■■“Growing in Your Spiritual Life,” facilitated by Sister Joan
Noreen, Our Lady’s Missionaries of the Eucharist, at Ave
Maria Retreat House, at Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa,
Doylestown, 610-582-3333, www.olme.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
■■“Advent Day of Recollection,” Malvern Retreat House, 9
a.m.-3 p.m., $40, 610-644-0400, www.malvernretreat.com.
Saturday, Dec. 20 – Sunday, Dec. 21
■■ “Pre-Christmas with the Franciscans,” St. Francis Retreat
House, Easton, $95, 610-258-3053, ext. 10, stfranrh@rcn.com,
www.stfrancisretreathouse.org.
Festivals
Friday, Aug. 1 – Saturday, Aug. 2
■■ Kevin Brennan Memorial Summer Carnival, Nativity BVM
High School, Pottsville, 5 p.m.-midnight.
Friday Aug. 1 – Sunday, Aug. 3
■■ Parish Festival, St. Joseph, Frackville, rear of 59 N. Line
St., Friday and Saturday noon-10 p.m., Sunday Polka Mass
11:15 a.m. (St. Ann Church), followed by festival until sell out or
9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 2
■■ Summer Festival and Chicken BBQ, St. Benedict,
Mohnton, at St. Benedict Grove, Plowville, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.;
dinners noon-7 p.m. $9; fireworks at dusk.
Saturday, Aug. 2 – Sunday, Aug. 3
■■ Heritage Days, Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic
Church, Easton, Saturday 5-midnight, Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
For more information, call 610-871-5200, ext. 264 or email adtimes@allentowndiocese.org.
Newly announced
Monday, Aug. 18
■■ Travelers, Saints Simon and Jude, Bethlehem to Mohegan
Sun Casino, Wilkes-Barre, $25, 610-867-9653, 610-868-0266.
Tuesday, Aug. 19
■■ Outreach Committee, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown to
Mohegan Sun Casino, Wilkes-Barre, $20, 610-433-6102, 610262-5040.
Wednesday, Aug. 20
■■ Golden Agers, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall to Mohegan Sun Casino, Wilkes-Barre, 610-264-3721.
Thursday, Aug. 28
■■ 55+ Club, Notre Dame of Bethlehem to Mount Airy Casino,
Mount Pocono, $23, 610-252-5638.
Saturday, Dec. 6
■■ Women’s Guild, St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield to a day
on your own in New York City, $35, 484-241-1011.
Previously announced
Thursday, Aug. 14
■■ Golden Agers, Holy Family, Nazareth to Hollywood Casino,
Grantville, $25, 610-759-0576.
Wednesday, Aug. 20
■■ Women’s Guild, St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield to tour of
Pennsylvania Dutch sites, $70, 610-392-2957
■■ Travelers, St. Matthew the Evangelist, Minersville to Mount
Airy Casino, Mount Pocono, $25, 570-544-5231, 570-6285413.
Wednesday, Aug. 27
■■ Golden Agers, Holy Family, Nazareth to “Moses,” Sight and
Sound Theater, Lancaster, $90, 610-759-0576.
Sunday, Aug. 3
■■ Parish Picnic and Homecoming, St. Peter, Coplay, noon-10
p.m., Polka Mass 10:30 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 8 – Thursday, Sept. 11
■■ Travelers, St. Matthew the Evangelist, Minersville to Outer
Banks, N.C., $539, 570-544-5231, 570-628-5413.
Thursday, Aug. 14 – Saturday, Aug. 16
■■ Festival, St. Rocco, Martins Creek, 6-10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 9 – Monday, Sept. 15
■■ Our Lady’s Missionaries of the Eucharist, Birdsboro,
pilgrimage to Fatima, guided by Sister Joan Noreen, $1,900,
www.olme.org, 610-582-3333.
Sunday, Aug. 31
■■ End-of-Summer Picnic, St. Patrick, Pottsville.
Sunday, Sept. 14
■■ Parish Picnic, Assumption BVM, Northampton at Egypt
Memorial Park, Mass 11 a.m., picnic until 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20
■■ Fall Festival, Incarnation of Our Lord, Bethlehem, noon-8
p.m., 610-866-3391.
Socials
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..
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).
Thursdays
■■Bingo, Knights of Columbus Home Association, Reading,
6:30 p.m., doors open 5 p.m., nonsmoking.
■■Bingo, St. Katharine Drexel, Lansford, 6:30 p.m., doors open
5 p.m.
Fridays
■■Bingo, St. Jerome, Tamaqua, 6 p.m.
Sundays, Aug. 17, Sept. 7, 21, Oct. 5, 19, Nov. 9, 23, Dec.
7, 14
■■Bingo, Knights of Columbus Cardinal Francis Brennan Council 618, Shenandoah, at St. Stephen’s Hall, 2 p.m., doors open
noon, accessible to handicapped.
Trips
Editor’s note: The A.D. Times publishes newly announced,
church-affiliated trips in every issue. The list of previously
announced trips repeats as space permits.
E-mail, fax or mail church-affiliated trips to adtimes@
allentowndiocese.org; fax 610-439-7694; The A.D. Times,
P.O. Box F, Allentown, PA 18105-1538. Include sponsoring church/group, destination, cost, and contact e-mail or
phone for more information. Because of space limitations,
we cannot include times, dining locations and detailed itineraries.
Items must be received by Thursday of the week before
publication.
Please type or print. Please notify The A.D. Times if trips
are cancelled so they can be removed from the list. Please
do not send items again after they are published.
Thursday, Sept. 11 – Thursday, Sept. 25
■■ St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, Franciscan pilgrimage
to Assisi, Florence and Rome, $5,600, 610-868-4091, 610-2583053.
Saturday, Sept. 13
■■Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown to “Moses,”
Sight and Sound Theatre, Lancaster, special pricing for seniors, 610-395-1945.
Saturday, Sept. 20 – Thursday, Oct. 2
■■ St. Jerome, Tamaqua, with Father John Frink, pilgrimage
to Ireland and Scotland, $4,599, www.promixotravel.com, 814479-4165.
Wednesday, Sept. 24
■■Golden Agers, St. Elizabeth, Whitehall to Amish comedy
“Half-Stitched,” Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant Stage, $82,
610-266-2874.
■■ Travelers, St. Matthew the Evangelist, Minersville to Hollywood Casino, Grantville, $23, 570-544-5231, 570-628-5413.
Monday, Oct. 6 – Saturday, Oct. 18
■■ Travel Club, Assumption BVM, Slatington to Catholic
shrines of Portugal, Spain and France, $2,995, 610-767-3036.
Thursday, Oct. 9
■■ Golden Agers, St. Elizabeth, Whitehall to “Octoberfest,”
Staten Island, N.Y., $84, 610-502-0781.
Thursday, Oct. 16
■■Golden Agers, Holy Family, Nazareth to GermanFest, Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Resort, Hawley, 610-759-0576.
Thursday, Oct. 23
■■ 55+ Club, Notre Dame of Bethlehem to Amish experience,
Kitchen Kettle Village, Lancaster, $92, 610-252-5638.
Monday, Nov. 3 – Friday, Nov. 7
■■ Travel Club, Assumption BVM, Slatington bus from Lehigh
Valley to “Fall Break,” Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon, N.Y., $485,
610-767-3036.
Monday, Dec. 1
■■ 55+ Club, St. Anne, Bethlehem to “Christmas Spectacular,”
Radio City Music Hall, New York, N.Y., $115, 610-807-9906.
Wednesday, Dec. 10
■■Women’s Guild, St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield to “Moses,”
Sight and Sound Theater, Lancaster, $100, 610-392-2957.
Thursday, Dec. 11
■■Golden Agers, St. Elizabeth, Whitehall to “Joy to the World”
Christmas Show, American Music Theatre, Lancaster and
Bernville Christmas lights, $86, 484-264-7723.
Wednesday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve)
■■Golden Agers, St. Elizabeth, Whitehall to Neil Diamond
impersonator, Mount Airy Casino, Mount Pocono, $57, 610264-3721.
It pays to advertise in The A.D. Times. Call 610-871-5200 ext. 273 for more information
Diocese
July 31, 2014
The A.D. Times
23
Statues of Father Brisson and the Good
Mother blessed during Oblate Convocation
DeSales University celebrated the
blessing of a new statue group in front
of Connelly Chapel on the Center Valley
campus June 18.
Oblate Father James Greenfield, provincial of the Wilmington-Philadelphia
Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de
Sales and a DeSales graduate, blessed the
statues during the annual Oblate Convocation.
The convocation, a spiritual gathering
of Oblate priests in the province, is held
annually at DeSales. The Oblates are the
order of priests that administer the university.
The cast bronze statues depict Blessed
Louis Brisson, founder of two religious
orders – Oblates and the Oblate Sisters
– and Sister Mary de Sales Chappuis,
co-foundress of the Oblates. The two are
shown as teachers surrounded by three
students.
The statues are the work of Ben Fortunado Marcune, a local artist known for
his “en plein air” paintings of Historic
Bethlehem and Bucks County, as well as
his portraits of business and civic leaders,
college presidents and performing artists.
Marcune’s sculptures for DeSales include the Our Lady of Deliverance statue,
and the statues of St. Francis de Sales and
St. Jane de Chantal.
The plaque at the Brisson statue reads:
“Blessed Louis Brisson, OSFS (18171908). Born in the Champagne region of
France, Louis entered the diocesan seminary of Troyes and was ordained to the
priesthood in 1840. He established a ministry to young working women by setting
up shelters and schools for them.
Along with St. Leionie Aviat, he
founded the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis
de Sales to administer his various foundations in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales.
At the instigation of Mother Mary de
Sales Chappuis, superior of the Visitation Monastery in Troyes, France, Father
Brisson founded the male community
of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in
Preparing for the blessing of the new
statues at DeSales University are,
from left: Joan Sheak Marcune; Ben
Marcune, the artist; Father James
Greenfield, provincial of the Oblates;
and Father Bernard O’Connor, president of DeSales. At right is Father Alexander Pocetto, retired senior vice
president.
Below, Father Greenfield reads a
prayer as Father Pocetto blesses the
statues of Blessed Father Brisson,
founder of the Oblates of St. Francis
de Sales, and Mother Mary de Sales
Chappuis, co-foundress of the Oblates.
1875.
“It is this religious community of Oblates who have ministered to DeSales
University since its inception in 1961.
Father Brisson was declared Blessed
Sept. 2, 2012 in the Cathedral of St. Peter
and Paul in Troyes, France.”
The plaque at the Good Mother statue
reads:
“Mary de Sales Chappuis (17931875). Affectionately known as the Good
Mother, this Swiss Visitation nun, as superior, brought the monastery of Troyes
back to the true spirit of SS. Francis de
Sales and Jane de Chantal.
“She kept after Father Brisson for 30
years to found a congregation of men
whose mission would be to live and disseminate the Salesian spirit and charism.
So she is considered to be the co-foundress and inspirer of the Oblates of St.
Francis de Sales.
“She was widely recognized and admired in 19th century France as the foremost interpreter and exemplar of Salesian
spirituality.”
It pays to advertise in The AD Times
call 610-871-5200 ext. 273
for information
Barnabite Heart to Heart Ministry in Washington
Father Dr. Robert Kosek,
founder of the Barnabite
Heart to Heart Ministry,
presents a shirt that tells
the Philippines they are
not alone to Archbishop
Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Philippines, during
the 17th Annual National
Filipino Pilgrimage Our
Lady of Peace and Good
Voyage (“Birhen ng Antipolo”). The June 28 presentation at the Basilica of
the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception
in Washington, D.C. was
made by the group that
has shipped more than 10
tons of clothing to the area
devastated by Typhoon
Yolanda. Collections are
still being taken for shipment at the Barnabite
Spiritual Center, 4301
Hecktown Road, Bethlehem. For more information about Heart to Heart
Ministry: 610-691-8648;
Facebook
“Barnabite
Heart to Heart Ministry”:
http://www.barnabitespiritualcenter.org/. (Photo by
Sue Braff)
24
The A.D. Times
Diocese
July 31, 2014
Filipino Catholic Community observes ‘Flores de Mayo’
The Filipino Catholic Community of the Diocese of Allentown (FCCDA) celebrated its eighth “Flores de Mayo” and “Santacruzan” May 31. Carrying the
Blessed Mother during “Santacruzan,” a procession commemorating the finding of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem by St. Helena, are, from left, Jojo Sidoro,
Jonathan Tabuzo and Joshua Catelo. (Photos by Sue Braff)
Rachel Santos Gabot, second from right, leads the procession as Reyna Elena during the pageant held on the ninth day of the religious festivity in honor
of Helena of Constantinople (Reyna Elena) and Constantine the Great finding
the True Cross in Jerusalem. Also participating in the procession are, from left,
Bernard Soluta, Jon Matthew Santos Gabat and Anton Lopez.
Left, Maria Mabelle Lusica performs at the
festival honoring the
Blessed Mother at St.
Francis Retreat House,
Easton. The celebration
began with Mass and
included a novena, procession, picnic and fellowship gathering.
Right, Joey and Josie
Tabuzo, festival organizers (2014 Hermano and
Hermana), lead the Filipino Catholic Community in prayer.
Carrying flowers during the processional into the chapel at St. Francis are,
from front, Sam Roderick, Ryan Callinan, Kassie Mae Ritter (Reyna Sheba),
Nicholas Charles Ritter and Savannah Callinan-Samaritana.
Rachel Santos Gabat is named 2014 Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) during the
pageant.
Diocese
July 31, 2014
The A.D. Times
A labor of love
Girl Scout creating community center at Ecumenical Kitchen
By SANDRA GASPAR
Director of Advancement, Catholic Charities
Maura Benner is not an ordinary teen.
She is an altar server at St. Ann, Emmaus,
and business manager and news editor of
The Stinger, newspaper at Emmaus High
School.
At age 17 she’s already attained the
Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Awards,
so of course she’d go for the Gold. As
a member of Troop 635 at St. Ann, she
determined that her Gold Award project
would be to create a community center
to make a change in the community. She
began looking for a place.
She contacted Rob Nicolella, administrator of Catholic Charities Lehigh/
Northampton County office, and learned
that Catholic Charities was hoping to,
someday, create a community center on
the main floor of the former Our Lady of
Mount Carmel Church, home of the soup
kitchen on the lower level.
Benner instantly dug her teeth into
the project: interviewing the Ecumenical
Kitchen (EK) attendees to find out what
they would want in a community center;
planning how to accomplish the challenging project; soliciting vendors and
individuals for in-kind donations; finding
volunteer labor; and more.
The interviews revealed what the EK
clients would like – teen girls want arts,
crafts and board games; boys want anything to do with sports; senior women
want to knit and crochet; adults want the
newspapers and want to read; and children want a place to do homework.
Of course, the Girl Scout had a plan
and timeline, but she said, “There were a
lot of surprises, such as the severe winter
with the ice and snow, which delayed the
roof repairs.”
First she tackled the back office that
would house the case manager for the
center – cleaning, removing trash, opening up the space and painting.
Scott Luman works on sanding the
floors.
Left, Girl Scout Maura Benner is working on the community center for her Girl
Scout Gold Award project. (Photos courtesy Sandra Gaspar)
Above, the work awaits on the main floor of the former Our Lady of Mount
Carmel Church, home of the soup kitchen on the lower level.
While the roof was being replaced in
December and January, Benner was seeking supplies, furniture and donations.
From one company, she was thrilled to
receive chairs, desks and tables for the
center.
Paint was generously donated by Sobrinski Painting. The Teen Works program of the United Way was delighted to
award Maura a $1,000 grant to help with
the various supplies required for the project.
Next on her agenda was painting the
three large arches of the sacristy of the
former church. Thanks to Maura and her
mother Christine, who painted the arches
a vivid and cheery orange, a very welcoming atmosphere for the book section
now greets everyone entering the large
community room.
Subsequently, the enormous task of removing all miscellaneous stored items in
the sanctuary, which formerly contained
the pews, needed additional hours and
pairs of hands. The floors, which at one
time were brilliant hardwood, required
sanding to remove years of wear and tear,
dirt and carpet glue.
Thanks to Father Allen Hoffa, chaplain at Allentown Central Catholic High
School, and his former classmate, Fernando Cartagena, now youth pastor of the
Church of the Resurrection and St. Paul
Church in Ellicott City, Md., on July 7 a
group of 50 youth ages 14 to 18 and 10
adults descended upon the Lehigh Valley
to work on service projects across Allentown.
Two of the five teams of youth and
three adults were assigned to help at the
EK Community Center project.
Now functioning as the project manager, Benner first had the group clean out
accumulated stuff from the church and
remove the carpeting. On their second
day, she had a couple of teens painting
the bathroom.
Two adults were running the rented
sander (donated by Home Depot) on the
hardwood floors, while a couple of teens
were filling bags of the sawdust.
Meanwhile, a group of the youth was
sorting and cataloging the large number
of books donated for the reading section.
Still others were cleaning and polishing
the floors of the EK. Everyone was working.
Daniel Ingham, one of the work camp
youth, said most of the students have
been together in various church groups
for many years. Students called out how
many years they’ve been going to the
summer work camps – first, third and
even fifth (the most permitted by their
ages).
Why do they do it? Ingham answered,
“We want to help and serve others and
our community. It has a religious component – you get what you give. It is rewarding, and at the end of the week, we are
so proud because we can see the progress
and how it will help others.”
“Young people, both high school- and
college-aged, are attracted more and
more to serving their brothers and sisters
in Christ,” explained Father Hoffa.
“Through service camps and activities, like the work camp from Maryland
and the Central City Project at Allentown
Central Catholic High School, students
are given the opportunity to take what
they hear and experience at Mass on Sunday and put it into action.”
Benner is thankful for the help and
support. “I’m seeing the light,” she said.
But there is more to be done. The ceiling
and walls must still be washed, primed
and painted. The furniture donations must
be assembled and the space set up. More
volunteer time is needed.
Benner had a purpose when she started
looking for a place. She had a will and a
want and said, “Why not? I took the challenge.”
Her mother and Girl Scout mentor
keep her in check and are there if she
needs them. However, throughout this
project, Maura has exhibited her analytical, leadership and self-starter abilities, and she is willing to put in the time
and do what it takes, having clocked 145
hours to date.
Catholic Charities Executive Director
Pamela Russo praised the youth saying,
“Staff and I are very grateful to Maura for
her leadership on the project and commitment to helping the residents of the community.
“Father Hoffa shared our vision for
the center and coordinated the work camp
volunteers from the Church of the Resurrection and St. Paul to help. The progress
being made at the EK is overwhelming,
and we are looking forward to opening
day.”
Benner’s hard work and labor of love
in creating a community center will
provide the families who visit the soup
kitchen and live in the neighborhood of
the EK with a place to go, materials to
read, games to play, activities to do, access to Catholic Charities social services,
and assistance with homework from high
school students from the Central City
Project.
Her Gold Award project and labor of
love – to create a community center –
will make a change in our community for
years to come.
Maria Ziegler and Jonathan Harrity refurbish a restroom.
25
26
The A.D. Times
Diocese
July 31, 2014
St. Anne School Choir performs in New York City
The School Choir of St. Anne, Bethlehem participates in the 2014 “Pueri
Cantores Choir Festival and Mass”
March 15 at St. Ignatius Loyola
Church, New York City. The children
rehearsed during the day, then sang
at Mass with 200 other choristers,
conducted by Paul French. The St.
Anne choir, directed by Jean Cunningham, performed a solo during the
prelude: “Ave Maria by Simon Lindley.” Choral music during the Mass
included plainchant, Renaissance,
Baroque, Romantic and modern liturgical compositions. Participating
students were from dioceses in New
York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Pueri Cantores is an international
Catholic organization providing opportunities for youth choirs to participate in liturgical music.
Friends gather
for retreat
Adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities gather during a June
21 retreat sponsored by the Office for
Ministry with Persons with Disabilities
(OMPD) at St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem. Theme for the retreat, presented by Sue Kaczmarek,
was “Attitude of Gratitude.” Also participating was Sister Janice Marie Johnson, coordinator of the office. From
left are: front, Debra Sterner, Freddy
Rengert, Marie Gordon, Katie Reichard, Anne Osenbach, Jenny Pflueger;
back, Maritsa Larson, Darren Nierer,
Sam Steinmetz, Mick Page, Michael
Mainiero and Brian Galgon.
8 August 2014
Worship
July 31, 2014
Recommended to your prayers by Pope Francis
Apostleship of Prayer Intentions for August
General Intention: Refugees. That refugees, forced by violence to abandon their
homes, may find a generous welcome and the protection of their rights.
Mission Intention: Oceania. That Christians in Oceania may joyfully announce
the faith to all the people of that region.
In memoriam
Please remember these clerics of the
Diocese of Allentown in your prayers
during August, the anniversary month of
their death.
2 – Father Owen Donnelly, 1972
2 – Deacon Thomas Mullins, 2005
6 – Msgr. Joseph O’Donnell, 1986
9 – Father Joseph McGarr, 2004
12 – Father Joseph Radocha, 1969
14 – Father Jerome Urbanski, 1984
15 – Deacon Rafael Cuevas, 2000
16 – Father Albert Cervella, 2008
19 – Father Stanislaus Fronczek, 1994
20 – Deacon Joseph Burda, 2007
26 – Father Thomas Courtney, 1996
26 – Deacon George Faller, 2007
27 – Msgr. Joseph May, 1974
27 – Father William Conley, 1987
27 – Father William Shields, 2000
29 – Father Michael Kakos, 1963
30 – Father Anthony Niemotko, 1981
31 – Father Frederick Loeper, 1996
The A.D. Times
Sunday Scripture
Sunday, Aug. 3 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading Isaiah 55:1-3
Responsorial psalm
Psalms 145:8-9, 15-18
Second reading
Romans 8:35, 37-39
GospelMatthew 14:13-21
Sunday, Aug. 10
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a
Responsorial psalm
Psalms 85:9-14
Second reading
Romans 9:1-5
Sunday, Aug. 17
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
Responsorial psalm
Psalms 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
Second reading
Romans 11:13-15, 29-32
Prayer requests for priests
Please pray for our Holy Father, our
bishops and these priests serving in the
Diocese of Allentown during each designated date of August.
1 – His Holiness Pope Francis
2 – Bishop of Allentown John Barres
3 – Bishop Emeritus of Allentown
Edward Cullen
4 – Father Richard James
5 – Father Ronald Jankaitis
6 – Father Dennet Jung
7 – Father Dominik Kalata
8 – Father John Mooka Kamweri
9 – Father David Karns
10 – Father Venatius Karobo
11 – Father Gregory Karpyn
12 – Father Richard Kennedy
13 – Father Martin Kern
14 – Father Joel Kieffer
15 – Deceased priests
16 – Father Wayne Killian
17 – Msgr. Nevin Klinger
18 – Father Jose Kochuparambil
19 – Msgr. Thomas Koons
20 – Religious priests
21 – Father Dr. Robert Kosek
22 – Father David Kozak
23 – Msgr. Robert Kozel
24 – Father Daniel Kravatz
25 – Father Dr. John Krivak
26 – Father Joseph Kweder
27 – Father Patrick Lamb
28 – Father Keith Laskowski
29 – Father Ronald Leinen
30 – Father Peter Leonard
31 – Father William Linkchorst
27
28
The A.D. Times
Diocese
July 31, 2014

July 31, 2014 - Diocese of Allentown

Transcription

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