Christmas Reflections

I will be leaving for home to spend Christmas

with my sister and best friend, Janie,

and will be away from the computer

for a few days.  So here is a

Christmas Reflection 

and my warmest wishes

and 

deepest thoughts.

     Saint Augustine is a great Doctor of the Church, an outstanding follower of Christ, a bishop in Northern Africa, a convert to the faith, and by his own confession, a pagan and great sinner.  Reverse the above order of his life and you see the tremendous working of God's grace and mercy in his life.

     On Christmas Eve, in the Office of Readings from the Church's Liturgy of the Hours, there is an excerpt from a Christmas sermon by Saint Augustine.  I would like to share a short part of that letter as my Christmas message.

     "Awake, mankind!  For your sake God has become man.                   Awake, you who sleep, rise up from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you.  I tell you again: for your sake, God became man.

     You would have suffered eternal death, had he not been born in time. 

     Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, had he not taken on himself the likeness of sinful flesh. 

     You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for his mercy.  

     You would never have returned to life, had he not shared your death.  

     You would have been lost if he had not hastened to your aid.            You would have perished, had he not come.

     Let us joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption.  

     Let us celebrate the festive day on which he

     who is the great and eternal day

     came from the great and endless day of eternity

     into our own short day of time.

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     Ask if this were merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and see whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace."

The prayer for Christmas Day says:

"God of endless ages, Father of all goodness,

we keep vigil for the dawn of salvation

and the birth of your Son. 

With gratitude we recall his humanity, 

the life he shared with the sons of men. 

May the power of his divinity

help us answer his call to forgiveness and life. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord."

 A  VERY  BLESSED  CHRISTMAS!

Advent images

      There are many images of the season of Advent, each reflecting the face of Christ which bring us into a deeper love of the Lord of Life.  These "icons", or sacred images that show us the Christ, always begin with Mary, but are found in so many other champions of the Faith present in these four brief weeks prior to Christmas.  Today is one of them, Saint Nicholas, the fourth century bishop of Myra in what is present day Turkey.

     Nicholas lived from about 270 to 343 and served as the Bishop of Myra.  Many legends grew up around him, with a great many surrounding his wonderful love of the needy and especially children.  He saw the face of Christ in these innocent ones, and most of the traditions involved his sharing his blessings with the young as he shared his love of Jesus.  Gift giving was involved, but so was gentle love and compassion.  The image of Nicholas above, as a Latin Rite bishop, is inaccurate, since he would have been of the Eastern Church Tradition, but it led to the image we have of Saint Nick as the jolly old man dressed in red and being a model of generous love.

     Many parishes in these early days of Advent share the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time with their youngsters who are preparing for their Sacraments of Initiation.  I shared in wonderful celebrations these past two days - on Monday at my former parish of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton where the kids were excited at seeing me again (even though I did not wear red, with my size and the gray beard, I probably reminded them that Santa was coming soon) - and on Tuesday at Our Lady of Grace in Greensburg.  Both were beautiful experiences of the gentle love and mercy of the Lord in our lives - for the youngsters, for their parents and families, and for the priests present.  I had an awesome thing happen yesterday as well.  A young lady needed some encouragement before receiving the Sacrament (she was nervous).  As her mom came to me to encourage her daughter she pointed out that she knew me.  She said that I had baptized her when I was an Associate at Saint John the Baptist in Scottdale and then married her and her husband when I was pastor at the same parish.  And now I had the honor of hearing her child's confession.  It is a small world, and our past moments of ministry often bring us continued blessings.

     There are many icons of Advent, many faces of Christ that bring us closer to him.  Look for them in your lives.

Friends and Family at the beginning

     Time passes so quickly.  We have now entered into a new year, not according to the calendar, but in the tradition and the practice of the People of God, the Church.  We call this transition Advent, and it leads us into a renewal of our journey of faith.  

     A week ago we acclaimed Christ to be our King, the King of the Universe and the Lord of our lives.  With that acclamation, all that had brought us to that moment was called to mind and celebrated, or reflected upon and repented of.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, on our national holiday that precedes Advent, we paused to call to mind the blessings of the Lord.  In the Scriptures for these last few weeks of the Church year, we heard readings that spoke of the end times, of the end of an age, of a day of judgement.  In our attentiveness to the news, real and fake, we see the ever deepening needs of our society and world, of our failures in learning the lessons of life, and most importantly, our failure to learn the message of the Gospels.  We reflect upon the past year and face the challenge of the new year.  And then we begin again.

     But as we continue our journey of Faith and face the uncertainty of the new day, we do so with a spirit of hope.  In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul calls us to join the Church at Corinth in reflection, and in giving thanks to God always for the grace that he has bestowed upon us.  He tells us to count our blessings as we "wait" for the revelation of the Lord.  He assures us that the Lord will keep us firm to the end in our Faith.  With this assurance we can cry out with the Psalmist today, "Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved."  Paul tells Corinth that "God is faithful, and in him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

     We forget what Paul reminds us of, and we seek the face of anyone but Christ to lead us or comfort us or be our foundation.  And all too often we repeat our mistakes because we have not learned the lessons of history and the message of the Gospel.  As we enter into Advent, break out from the pattern of repetition and move forward in grace with grace.  And may we remember the words of Isaiah the prophet: "No ear has ever heard, no eye has ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him."

     Our courage to move forward into this new year with confidence happens when we see the face of God and turn toward him.  We see the face of God in others: in Mary who is the icon of Advent, and in our friends and family.  I was blessed these past two days in spending time with family, and with friends who have become family to me.  My sister, Janie and I had lunch today with cousins, and yesterday I shared an early Christmas party with the Christian Mothers of my former parish, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.  Following the party I joined the parish for the evening Mass and was graciously welcomed by the pastor, Father John Moineau, and greeted by the parish family with warmth and love.  It was a good beginning of a new day, a new season of grace, and a new year of blessing for the Church.    

The memory of a good visit

     Years ago on one of my visits to California, we visited the Mission of San Juan Capistrano in southern California.  As so often happens, it was a beautiful day as we toured the Mission grounds and the church with its lovely ornate altar piece.  Later we had lunch at a restaurant across the street from the Mission entrance.  This is the same place made famous by the yearly return (migration) of swallows from a place in Mexico to this very location, the return takes place on the Feast of Saint Joseph every March 19th, and has been celebrated since the 1930's.

     This good memory comes to mind today as the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint John of Capistrano, for whom the California Mission was named.  Saint John was born in Capistrano in the Abruzzi region of Italy in 1386.  He studied law in Perugia and served as governor there.  Inspired by the example of Saint Francis of Assisi and his followers, he entered the Order of Friars Minor.  Ordained a priest, he led a life of untiring preaching and ministry throughout all of Europe.  He sought to encourage the Christian Life and to refute heresy.  He died in Austria in 1456.

     From a writing of his entitled "Mirror of the Clergy" Saint John

said of priests:  "You are the light of the world.  Now a light does not illumine itself, but instead it diffuses its rays and shines all around upon everything that comes into its view.   So it must be with the glowing lives of upright and holy clerics.  By the brightness of their holiness they must bring light and serenity to all who gaze upon them.  They have been placed here to care for others.  Their own lives should be an example to others, showing how they must live in the house of the Lord."

     Yesterday I joined with many people from a number of parishes from throughout the Diocese to celebrate with Father James Bump his seventy-fifth birthday and his fortieth anniversary of ordination.  Father Bump is a good friend, and is a model of what Saint John of Capistrano spoke of in the words above.  His ministry, even in retirement, is a continued bringing of the light of Christ to a waiting world.  His celebration was a great event, and we wish him well.

     Please pray for Father Bump, for your priests, and please pray for me.  

The Grace of Martyrdom

     Between the years 1642 and 1649 eight members of the Society of Jesus were killed in the missions of North America.  These deaths took place in what is now upstate New York following the terrible torture of these men of God by members of the Huron and Iroquois tribes.  Two of those men who the Church recognizes as saints are the North American Martyrs Isaac Jogues and John de Brebeuf.  Isaac died on October 18, 1647 and John on March 16, 1648. 

     I remember hearing as a youngster of the torture and suffering of Father Isaac Jogues.  His suffering was excruciating and involved among other things the mutilation of his hands.  He was lucky enough to escape his captors, and was sent home to France to recover.  He needed a special dispensation to offer Mass due to the infirmity of his hands.  After recovery, he insisted on returning to the  New World to continue his ministry, which came to an end on that October day.  And yet his ministry continued through the example of his courage and faith.

     Years ago I made a retreat at a Jesuit Retreat House, where I heard the more detailed description of the death of John de Brebeuf.  He was tortured mercilessly by his captors, and suffered every indignity and every pain with courage and a peaceful resolve.  So impressed were those that observed this persecution that they honored his bravery and courage by partaking of his heart - the heart of a warrior.  It sounds gruesome to us, but to them it spoke of their respect that they wanted to share in his courage.

     From his spiritual diaries before his death, John de Brebeuf said this: "...in truth I vow to you, Jesus my Savior, that as far as I have the strength I will never fail to accept the grace of martyrdom, if some day you in your infinite mercy should offer it to me, your most unworthy servant."  Again he says: "May I die only for you, if you grant me this grace, since you willingly died for me."

     There is a parish in the neighboring Diocese of Pittsburgh named after these North American Martyrs.  The architecture is unique, and the tabernacle is in the form of a teepee, as befits the Native Americans that were ministered to by these first saints of the New World.  The Church's prayer says:
Father,
you consecrated the first beginnings
of the faith in North America
by the preaching and martyrdom
of Saints John and Isaac and their companions. 
By the help of their prayers
may the Christian faith continue to grow
throughout the world."

Sharing the Word

     We all know of the four Evangelists - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  These four passed on the story of Jesus and shared his teaching, inspiring the communities to which they wrote with their witness.  Sometimes that witness was an eyewitness account, and at other times it was the inspired sharing of the testimony of others.

     Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Evangelist Luke.   Luke was born of a pagan family.  He was a convert to the Christian faith and a follower and co-worker of the Apostle Paul, who also came to believe in Jesus after his death and resurrection.  Luke travelled with Paul on a number of his journeys, and came to know of Jesus through Paul, and to know Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  He gave us the Gospel that bears his name, but he also gave us an account of the beginning of the Church in the Acts of the Apostles.  Tradition tells us that he was an educated man, probably a physician, and an artist.  He is reported to have painted ancient icons, and again tradition tells us that he may have painted the icon of Virgin and Child that is found in "The Black Madonna".

     We hear in the Acts of the Apostles that "The word of God continued to increase and spread everywhere, and all who were destined for eternal life believed in it."  This was the testimony of Paul and it was fleshed out in the life of Luke.  

     In my radio program which aired on WAOB FM this past Sunday evening, I was given two passages from Luke to reflect upon: the 16th chapter and the later half of chapter 11.  In verse 35 of chapter 11, Jesus says: "Take care, then, that the light in you not become darkness."  I shared that "We have been gifted with the light of truth, and empowered to bring that light into a darkened world.  We are challenged to allow our life of faith to be seen and followed, and thus transform the world."  Luke did just that.  

     And so, on this Feast of Saint Luke we pray:

"Father,

you chose Luke the evangelist to reveal

by preaching and writing

the mystery of your love for the poor.

Unite in heart and spirit

all who glory in your name,

and let all nations come to see your salvation."

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     The priests of the Diocese had a meeting here at the Bishop Connare Center this afternoon, discussing a number of issues that touch the life of our parishes.  It was a good day of sharing information as well as our thoughts.  One unique thing that took place was a formal photo of the entire presbyterate in the Saint Joseph Chapel.  Nearly all of our priests were present.  Yours truly is in the front row on the right.

Pray for your priests ... and pray for an increase in vocations.

A new beginning

     I find it remarkable that my days go by so quickly and are so filled with activities that demand my attention, especially in retirement, but so it is.  Last week in particular saw much time spent in preparation for preaching and/or teaching.  At the Neumann House retirement residence, the priests take a week at a time celebrating the Eucharist in our small chapel, and last week was my turn.  Since retiring I have been listening rather than preaching, but it as god to get back into the swing of things.  In addition, this past Saturday and Sunday I filled in at Saint Paul Church for one of the priests who was away.  All this took much prep time, but brought to mind one of the things that I miss most about not being in active ministry - celebrating with a community, preaching and being a minister of the Lord's love.  I also had a great experience in the confessional on Saturday at Saint Paul parish and rejoiced in the merciful grace of God.  On Sunday evening I shared in my sixth live radio program of "lectio-divina" on WAOB-FM (106.7 FM) the local Catholic radio station.  I am enjoying this new aspect of ministry.

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    Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, a early bishop and martyr of the Church.  He succeeded Saint Peter as bishop of Antioch and was put to death by being thrown to wild beasts during the persecution of the Emperor Trajan I the year 107.  On his journey to Rome and his death, he wrote seven letters to the various churches.

     One was to the Church at Rome itself.  He tells them that he is God's wheat and he shall be ground by the teeth of wild animals.  He said that he was ready for death, because he knew where his treasure lay.  In his letter he says: "No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way.  I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth.  He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest.  He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.  The time for my birth is close at hand."

     The conviction of people of faith and the courage of the martyrs has always given me reason to pause.  We have been so blessed, and take so much for granite, that a little adversity at times is so challenging.  And yet we have never faced death as did Ignatius and those others who were given little option: be faithful and die or deny and live.  The courage that it takes to embrace and express the words above in bold print can only be spoken in the grace of the Spirit of God. Thank God for the witness of the martyrs and the courage of Ignatius.  The prayer for the day says it all:
"All-powerful and ever-living God, you ennoble your Church with the heroic witness of all who give their lives for Christ.  Grant that the victory of Saint Ignatius of Antioch may bring us your constant help as it brought him eternal glory."

Francis of Assisi

     October 4th has always been a great day of celebration in my life, ever since I became aware of the saint of that day, Francis of Assisi.  The story of his life in the late 1100's and early 1200's is one of simple faith, poverty and humility, and transforming love that is as important today as it always has been.  In our complicated world, self-centered and commercial, absorbed in power and greatness, the message of simplicity of life and joy of  heart is refreshing.  It almost seems too ideal, too make believe to be real or practical.  If it were not lived out in the life of Francis and his early followers, it would be a fairy tale.  But it is real.

     Francis appeared at a moment in history when the Church was absorbed in itself and in need of renewal.  After Francis, in a moment of conversion, renounced all for the sake of the gospel and embraced poverty, the message of love found in the gospels and the joy of heart found in those that responded to the call of Jesus became a reality in his small portion of Italy, and spread to all corners of the earth.  Francis is honored by people of every religion and even those of none.  The Lord told him to "rebuild the Church" ... and before realizing the greater implications of that call, saw his task as being the rebuilding of a small church outside of Assisi - San Damiano.  The story is well known, and tremendously beautiful.

     This evening our small community of retired priests had a movie night, and watched Franco Zeffirelli's wonderful movie of 1972 - "Brother Sun, Sister Moon".  Zeffirelli knows how to make a beautiful film, and this one was no exception.  I saw the movie years ago, but it was good to see it once again.

   I have had the blessing of visiting Assisi on at least three occasions, and found great peace in the hillside community of Francis and Clare.  Their spirit obviously pervades the town after these 800 years.  And the spirit of Francis of Assisi is still sought after by the restless of heart and often found by those who seek the joy of life.

    On this feast of Francis of Assisi, the troubadour of the great King, may his joy of life and his respect for all of God's creation find a home in our hearts, and continue to renew the Church, under the leadership of another Francis.

People that touch our lives

     Many days have gone by since my last post.  Within those days, though, I have been blessed with the experience or memory of individuals who have touched my life.  Here are a few of those reflections,

     When our new bishop, Bishop Edward Malesic, was introduced to us a few years ago, we met his Dad.  Mr. Malesic lives in the eastern part of the State, but comes and visits his son periodically.  This past weekend Mr. Malesic celebrated a wonderful milestone, his one hundredth birthday.  He is a great, personable guy who enjoys people and his faith and his family.  We wish him all of the best.

 Holding his son's crozier at the ordination

 At a recent intereview

Meeting with a fellow 100 year old friend at Saint Anne Home

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      And speaking of the Malesic men, our bishop this past Wednesday hosted another of his informal gatherings for his brother priests of the diocese and the Archabbey at Saint Vincent.

The bishop schedules three or four of these opportunities to gather for food and drink and relaxed fellowship at his home or at the Bishop Connare Center in the diocese.  There were over forty of the guys present last week, and a great time was had by all.  Our bishop is a real pastor who enjoys the celebration of life.  Our guys are counting their blessings.

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     This past Saturday saw the historic beatification ceremony for now Blessed Father Stanley Francis Rother take place in Oklahoma City at the Cox Convention Center.  Over 15,000 people took part in this ceremony that brings to the attention and veneration of the faithful this missionary priest from Oklahoma City, who ministered in Guatemala, and was murdered there in 1981 by a guerilla death squad.  He is placed before us to be venerated as a priest and missionary and a present day martyr for the faith.   He will be the first U.S. saint to be so recognized  His local feast is set for July 28th, the anniversary of his death in Guatemala.  I watched the beatification ceremony on EWTN on Saturday.  Blessed Stanley Rother, pray for us.

A photo of Father Stanley Rother among his people.

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      In my last post I mentioned beginning a new ministry of sorts in radio on WAOB FM 106.7.  In addition to recording some readings and Scriptures, I have now completed four live hour long "lectio divina" programs, the latest one just last evening.  Again, I find it challenging and refreshing, and it keeps the mind "in tune and alert".  This ministry will hopefully continue, unless I become the source of a decreased listening audience.  Hopefully not.  Who knows!  Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., is the guiding force behind the station.

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     I received word of the death of a fellow seminarian from the old Saint Francis of Loretto days, Monsignor Maurice "Moe" Lavigne, a priest of the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire.  Moe was a few years ahead of me in seminary.  And until my recent downsizing, I had an ordination picture of a handsome, young priest with the future before him.  Monsignor Lavigne would have celebrated his 50th anniversary next year.  He died after a short illness, an illness that he embraced with great courage.

     Moe Lavigne's obituary says this: "He loved to laugh and often chuckled at his own jokes, which made him all the more enduring.  He enjoyed the arts and embraced both the theatre and movies.  He appreciated the music of all genres.  His home in the rectory at Rye Beach was a place of quiet joy and contemplation and he enjoyed time spent there tremendously."

I knew him when he was young, but these words reflect the young man that I knew.

His funeral liturgy was held in New Hampshire this morning.  May he rest in peace.  Say a prayer for Father "Moe" Lavigne.

An enjoyable Lord's Day

     Following a day of feeling under the weather on Saturday, yesterday was a welcome change and a day of blessings.  First of all, the day was beautiful ... perfect weather, exceptional for this time of the year.  This entire week is supposed to be in the mid 80's and sunny.  Yesterday was a promise of the week to come.
     I have been attempting to attend Sunday Eucharist in a parish setting.  We have Mass daily at the Neumann House residence, but I look forward to celebrating with a vibrant parish worshipping community.  Yesterday I attended the 10:30 am Mass at Our Lady of Grace parish in Greensburg.  Father Dan Blout is the pastor, and the celebrant at the Mass was Father Ryan Ravis, one of our younger priests.  With the gracious okay of Father Ryan, I concelebrated the liturgy.  The parish has a transitional deacon from Saint Vincent Seminary assigned to them, and he assisted and preached.  He is Deacon Brother Martinho Zevallos, O.S.B., a native of Peru who is a member of the Priory of Sao Bento in Vinhedo, Brazil, finishing his studies at Saint Vincent.  He is an excellent preacher, and following ordination will serve the Church well as a priest.  With Father Ryan's prayerful leadership and Deacon Martinho's fine preaching, and the excellent singing and generous welcome by the community, I was uplifted.
     I returned for lunch and a bit of tv in the afternoon, before concelebrating Mass with Bishop Malesic and a number of our priests at the annual gathering of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society of the Diocese of Greensburg.   The Mass was followed by a great dinner that expressed the gratitude of service provided by the Vincentians of the Diocese.
     My evening involved a unique fundraising experience at Saint Vincent College for one of its exhibits.  It was the first of five "Historical Dinner Theater Presentations" at the Fred Rogers Center on campus.  About fifty people enjoyed a delicious dinner followed by a presentation by a master storyteller named Jonathan Kruk.  Mr. Kruk, in period dress and character, tells stories of Hudson River Lore.  He is the author of "Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley", and has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning News.  He has a web site at www.jonathankruk.com.  He shared with us the story and legend of Rip van Winkle - truly delightful.  All in all, a perfect capping of an enjoyable Lord's Day.  

A first for me

        Last evening (Tuesday, September 12th) I took a step into a radio ministry that exists in the diocese and the Western Pennsylvania area.  I shared a live program of "lectio divina" in the 8 to 9 pm time slot on WAOB-FM, locally 106.7 FM on the dial.  WAOB is "We Are One Body", a Catholic radio station that broadcasts out of their studio in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. 

     WAOB began in March of 2010 with the approval of the bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg.  They produce catechetical and contemplative programing, presenting the life of the Church in a way that makes the Mystical Body of Christ more apparent.   There are varied forms of prayer, teachings, discussions, Scripture studies and prayer services and liturgies.  You can find more info on WAOB at www.waob.org.

     Father Boniface Hicks, a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, and his great staff at WAOB, encouraged and welcomed me to the broadcast family, and made last evening's program go very smoothly.  I was given four Scripture passages (each pre-recorded by another priest) and asked to share a short reflection upon three or four passages taken from each of those Scriptures, leading to a quiet moment of silence for reflection by the listener. All of this was done in quiet prayer, and with the enhancement of recordings of chant and song.  I had never shared this form of prayer before, and definitely never in the public forum, and I found it a wonderful experience of ministry.  I came away from the studio truly blessed.

    Father Boniface expressed a desire for further involvement on my part.  I will pray over that possibility, and look forward to ways of extending my ministry in this format.  And I thank Father Boniface and the staff of the radio station for their commitment and ministry.

     Years ago, and for nearly fifteen years, I had a small radio program entitled "That You May Believe" on WMBS in Uniontown.  It consisted of a short, ten minute reflection on the weekly Scripture.  I did the recordings at home (on cassette tapes - remember them?) and sent them in each week.  It was much nicer being in the studio at WAOB.  It was during that previous radio ministry that a very good friend of mine stated that I definitely "had the face for radio!"  He was, and still is, a very good friend.

Being part of the extraordinary

     One of the greatest challenges to our lives is complacency.  In every aspect of life, especially when things are going well, we feel complacent - and we tend to "go with the flow", to drift, to move into auto-pilot.   The temptation then is to relax, for all is as it should be.

     But is this the case?  When we pride ourselves with expressions of "peace and security", when the status-quo seems to be enough, we neglect the challenge to move from the ordinary to the extraordinary.  And when we fail to go beyond the norm, we open ourselves to the disaster that comes in the darkness of night, or the hardness of heart, or man's inhumanity towards others, or most deadly - unconcern regarding our relationship with the Lord and those that he places before us.

     Our first reading at liturgy today is found in 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6, 9-11.  The author reminds us that we are different.  God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through Jesus Christ.  We are called to be extraordinary, to go the extra mile, to stay alert and sober.  Most importantly we, as family, are to encourage one another and build one another up in the name and spirit of Christ.  There is no place for complacency.  There is no drifting through life as if there is no urgency to our life situation.  There is no room for "going with the flow", for the time is now, is always NOW, to walk with the Lord and share in the blessing of his love.  We are to be encouragers of others, the strength of those who are weak, the surety of those confused, the hope to those deeply challenged.  This is our work.  This is our responsibility.  This is our gift to be shared with others.

     In these first two months of retirement I have found myself on auto-pilot at times, simply drifting into an ordinary routine, and allowing complacency to touch my life and ministry.  The task of encouragement and building others up in faith has not diminished, and neither has my desire to serve the Lord and his people.  I entrust my ministry to the deep and generous love of God. 

A Journey Home

      There is a great program on EWTN hosted by Marcus Grodi titled "The Journey Home".  It involves interviewing people who have had a moment of grace and conversion and have "come home" to the Catholic Faith.

    This past Sunday afternoon I took a journey home of a different sort.  I travelled to Uniontown to our family home to visit with my sister, Jane, and to stay overnight (my first "overnight" away from my new retirement residence since moving in).   Both Sunday and Monday were beautiful late summer days here in Western Pennsylvania, and the hour long drive home was relaxing.  We caught up with the news, went out for a good meal, watched some of the tube, and had a restful night's sleep.

     On Monday I took Janie to a doctor's appointment and we then decided to take a drive up into the mountains.  Our mountains in this part of the Commonwealth are not high, nor rugged, but older, tree covered and beautiful.  We headed to The Stone House, an old inn along Route 40 (The National Road), a route built in the early days of this country which followed paths and roadways that were established in the mid 1700's.

The Braddock Inn

     The Stone House was not open for lunch, so we went a few miles further and had lunch at The Braddock Inn, located adjacent to Braddock's Grave, an historical monument marking the death and place of burial of General Edward Braddock of the British forces in the New World.   General Braddock, who lived from 1695 to July 13, 1755 when he was killed in a battle between the British forces and those of the French and Native Americans near Great Meadows.  This was a part of the conflict known in this country as the French and Indian War (1754-1765) and in Europe as the Seven Years War between France and Brittan.  It was all about control of land and commerce rights in the wilderness of the New World.  Interesting history in this part of the world.

     General Braddock died in the arms of George Washington in his days when he worked for the British.  He was buried in an unmarked grave in the middle of the rough new road that was cut out the forest, so that his grave would not be found and desecrated in any way.

    So, our day was relaxing and enjoyable, our meals were great, and my journey home was, as always, a blessing.

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     While the weather was beautiful in Western Pennsylvania over the weekend, it was anything but in Texas.  I encourage you to pray for those affected by the unbelievable flooding there, and if you are able, please be generous in your charity with your gift of help, in whatever way you feel called.  In our Diocese a special second collection is set to happen soon, and Catholic Charities always does an outstanding job of reaching out t those in need.  Please be generous.

An Extraordinary Experience of Nature

     Much of the United States today was caught up in the extraordinary solar eclipse of 2017.  This eclipse of the sun cut a path across the United States from West to East with some truly mind blowing visual experiences.  People traveled across the country and from other parts of the world to observe this rare phenomenon.  One of our priests, my classmate Msgr. Paul Fitzmaurice and Deacon Dan Carr, assigned to his parish, travelled after mass yesterday to Paul's brother's home in Kentucky to view the eclipse.

     While our observation in Pennsylvania was not total, it stirred great excitement and enthusiasm, and science was brought to the fore of newscasts and programing.  The next such eclipse will not occur in at least my lifetime, until sometime in the 2040's.

     While attention today is drawn to the scientific world, it ultimately draws our attention to the creator of sun and moon, of stars and sky, of time and space.  The beauty of today's experience is found in the magnificence of our Creator God.  The Church is, and has been for centuries, keenly aware of that truth.  The Church studies the skies in ways that the world is barely aware of.   There is an excellent article by Joan Lewis, the Rome correspondent of EWTN, on her blog "Joan's Rome", describing the interest of the Church in these celestial studies.  It can be found at www.joansrome.wordpress.com and is highly recommended.

    I hope that you had a good experience of today's eclipse, and I hope that the hype led you to reflect upon the awesome beauty and complex power of God.

An Evening of Faith Well lived

     This past Tuesday marked the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It is a Holy Day in the Catholic Church in the United States, and a very important celebration in the Diocese of Greensburg, which was placed under the patronage of Our Lady of the Assumption in the early 1960's.

     This year, to celebrate the Feast, the Diocesan Heritage Center hosted a Mass and Candlelight Rosary Procession on the grounds of the Bishop Connare Center in Greensburg.  Bishop Edward Malesic led us in prayer, and he was joined by retired Bishop Lawrence Brandt, a number of our priests, and well over three hundred of the faithful from throughout the Diocese.  Mass began at 7:00 pm in the Saint Joseph Chapel, and was followed by a candlelight procession with the image of Mary along the beautiful grounds of the facility.  During and following the procession, the Rosary was prayed, with the first part of the Hail Mary's being prayed in the many languages represented in the Diocese and the response prayed in English by all.  At the conclusion, a reception of light refreshments was held in the dining room.

Pictures are courtesy of the Diocesan facebook page

     I have been to many events over the years where Faith was expressed in prayer and witness, but I must confess at being very moved by this gathering of God's People.  The crowd was more than expected (300 hosts were set out for consecration, and that number was not adequate for those attending).  Families came with members of all ages.  People came early and enjoyed the beautiful weather and peaceful grounds.  The liturgy led by the bishop was uplifting, as was his message and the outstanding singing of the congregation.  And then, in the twilight and growing darkness, to see those bearing candles in procession brought back memories of earlier days and of Marian shrines in Europe.  I was truly blessed to have shared in the evening.

    My gratitude to those who planned and prepared, to the many who attended and witnessed to their faith, to Mary for being our Mother, and to the Lord for his love and grace.

The support of friends

     One thing about my new residence at Neumann House at the Bishop Connare Center in our diocese is that we priests who are retired from active pastoral ministry are at the heart of many activities held by the Diocese of Greensburg.   One of those occurred Sunday evening when our bishop, at the invitation of the Office of Vocations and the Catholic Foundation, met with laity and priests who have shown their support of our vocation efforts through prayer and substantial giving.   Approximately one hundred and forty people gathered for Evening Prayer in the Saint Joseph Chapel, followed by refreshments and a fine dinner.  During that time, they were introduced to our four seminarians present, thanked for their generosity and encouraged by Bishop Malesic and those running the program to be as supportive as possible in these crucial efforts.  An insightful talk on the vision of priesthood of Pope Francis was given by Benedictine Father Edward Mazich, the rector of Saint Vincent Seminary, and a newly produced video from the Vocation Office was previewed. It was an encouraging evening for all of those in attendance.  This event, called the "Friends of Seminarians Dinner" is an annual event.

 The reception outside the Chapel

 Bishop Malesic addressing those in attendance

 The new Vocation Video

Benedictine Father Edward Mazich, keynote speaker

     As I sat in the Saint Joseph Chapel and prayed with these good and supportive people, I reflected upon the sacrifices made throughout the years by those who have been friends, to seminarians and priests, and who have made my priesthood possible.  The support and encouragement that I received in my formative years, by family and friends, by the Diocese and the local Serra groups, and the countless prayers of untold people throughout the twelve years of seminary and the forty-four of priesthood are an outstanding testimony of faith and action.  The very chapel we prayed in, and the facility we gathered at, are examples of that sacrifice and support.  Many of the men that have gone through the seminary programs have become priests and deacons, and an even greater number have become good, solid Catholic men of family and faith, involved in the Church and committed to the Good News of the Gospel.

     When I began this journey fifty-six years ago this Fall, we had twenty-one in our class of High School Freshmen.  I remember Bishop Connare telling us that if we get one ordination from this group, we will be fortunate.   From that group we saw two men ordained priests, with one leaving active ministry after a number of years and now one retired, and two men ordained later in life to the Permanent Diaconate, one of whom is now retired.  Not bad, four out of the twenty-one.  But the good news is the great lives of faith lived by so many of the others and the service to the Church that they have brought and continue to bring to the Church's mission.  As a side note: one of those men stopped to see me just this afternoon.  Rick Pedzwater, originally from New Ken and a classmate from the old Saint Joseph Hall days, stopped by with his grandson on their way to Steeler Camp at Saint Vincent for the day.  Rick lives in the Eastern part of the Commonwealth, and his grandson is from York, Pennsylvania.  It was a delightful surprise, and it was great seeing Rick again.

     Those Friends of Seminarians of the past and the present have laid the foundation and set the stage, and the Friends of Seminarians of the future are as vitally important as ever.  Be one of those good people through your prayers, encouragement and support of our seminarians and deacons and priests.  We need you.

Companions on the journey

     None of us journeys through life on their own.  As human beings, we are social in nature, in need of interaction and the stimulation that comes from our experiences and the giving of ourselves.   As people of faith, we are even more aware of our dependence upon God and upon those that he places in our lives as companions on the journey.

     In the life of the Church, there are many examples of such companions among the saints of God.  Some are related, like the siblings Scholastica and Benedict.  Some are inspired by the lives of their founder or patron and reflect the charisms found there.  And some are rooted in friendship, like Francis of Assisi and the saint of the day, Clare of Assisi.  Clare lived from 1194 to 1253.  Her family was well to do, and she lived near the town square of the town of Assisi.  She was a friend of the young Francis, and when his "conversion" to a simple way of life brought him to the attention of the community, she was attracted not only to the person and to his message, but also to the spiritual transformation that she saw in his life.  She desired to "give up" everything and follow this simple way, running away and entering the local Benedictine Convent.  Her family rescued her and brought her back home, insisting that she give up on this fantasy, but she persisted and eventually gave up her family and status to embrace Religious Life and eventually follow her spiritual companion, Francis.  She founded the Poor Clares, a community of nuns devoted to a simple, austere life of prayer.  Famously, she defended the town of Assisi from attack by boldly brandishing the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance before the town gate and scaring off the attackers.

     Clare is buried in the church that bears her name, and her body is visible to those who come as pilgrims, since she is an incorruptible.  While Francis is skeletal, she is incorruptible - the power of this woman of faith.   To view her body and to pray at her tomb, and that of her companion, Francis, has been a true blessing in my life.   On this, her feast, we pray: Saint Clare, pray for us!   Allow is to be grateful for our companions on the journey. 

Another need

     This afternoon I responded to an invitation to join with Bishop Edward Malesic of our diocese for a Mass and Luncheon in recognition and honor of members of the Our Lady of the Assumption Legacy Society.  This event is an annual opportunity for the diocese to express its gratitude to those who have remembered the diocese in their estate planning, and to those who have given significantly to the ongoing work of the local Church over the year or years.  This gathering takes place on the feast of Saint Lawrence, who was a martyr in the early Church and a deacon entrusted with the "treasures of the Church in Rome" at the time of his death.  The Legacy Society was established by our retired bishop, Lawrence Brandt, and builds upon the Catholic Foundation established by our second bishop, William Connare.
Today's event took place at the Bishop Connare Center, our diocesan conference center in Greensburg, and my new home in retirement.   It was a great event.

     Bishop Malesic led us in prayer and broke open God's Word in his usual, pastoral way.  He spoke of the ministry and responsibility to respond to God's gift to us with the sharing of our blessings with the Church.   As I sat in the Saint Joseph Chapel and prayed today, I was keenly aware of the sacrifice of so many in the building of this place (which was my High School Seminary residence) and the support given to me in my journey toward priesthood.  What little I can give in return is inadequate in expressing my gratitude, but those who sacrificed over the years have my prayers and my deepest thanks.

     Our crowd today was small (a Thursday, early afternoon event is difficult for those who work) and I was a little disappointed with the turnout.  But then I reflected that this was my first time in attendance at such an affair (I was usually too busy or uninterested to attend), and that I should not be overly critical.

     And then another thought occurred to me.  I do not need to be "thanked" for my support or the sharing of my gifts, but there is another need - a need for the Church, through our bishop, to extend thanks for generous love and support.  The presence of those here today brings a visible component to the grateful commitment to the work of the Church.  And the prayers that we offer go out to all of those who through the living out of their faith, in their life of love and service, and in their generous support of the Church, have sacrificed much.  We have all been blessed ... and our response in whatever way and at whatever level, is our natural response. 

Holy Wisdom

     There are two sources of wisdom that we as followers of Jesus Christ are called to embrace and into which we immerse ourselves.  Obviously, if we are to be leaven in the world and affect a radical transformation of a world touched by sin, we need to have a wisdom and a knowledge of what we speak of and to whom we witness.  This knowledge is more than just book learning, it requires the ability to think, to reason, to make critical decisions based in truth and not in whim.  It requires our use of one of those specific and unique qualities that defines a human being from the rest of creation - that we reason and decide, and take responsibility for our actions.

     To be truly wise, though, requires that we become one with Christ ... that his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, Wisdom, which he gives to us with deep love and affection find a place in our hearts and guide and direct our minds and hearts to choose wisely. 

     Miriam and Aaron chose badly in the first reading of today's liturgy and find themselves at odds with the Lord.  Psalm 51 show the wisdom of the repentant sinner who humbles himself before a merciful God.  And in the gospel we encounter those who need to justify themselves in the law and close themselves to the heart of the message of the great commandment of love.

     Today the Church honors Dominic, a contemporary of Saint Francis who lived between 1170 - 1221.  He founded the Dominicans - the Order of Preachers - and in his ministry and the charism that he shared with his followers, preached with power and conviction the Holy Wisdom of God united to the wisdom of this world.  He/they preached the goodness of all that God has given us, including our bodies and the things of this world.  Dominic instructed his followers to engage in rigorous academic studies so that this aspect of wisdom can be transformed by that Holy Wisdom that we are called to embrace. 

     May the Holy Wisdom of God inspire us, guide us, and enlighten us as we continue our journey.

A Contrast of Power

     The following reflection I posted on August 6, 2013.  I share these thoughts again with you.

     Things were looking bad.  The end was near.  Hopelessness and despair were setting in.  It was at this juncture that Jesus took his closest friends, Peter, James and John, with him to the mountaintop to pray.  Nothing unusual.  It was at this moment that Jesus decided to give them hope, to share a vision of the divine reality, to let them know that all was not lost.  He was transfigured before their eyes.  A blinding light, immense power unlike anything ever seen before, a vision of all human existence brought together in the presence of an all powerful God as represented by Moses and Elijah - the law and the prophets.  By rights and from tradition Peter, James and John should be dead.  Very few see the face of God and live ... and if they do, they are never the same, they are transformed as were Moses and Elijah.   But this release of power brought life.  It gave hope and joyful peace to hearts.  It was a reminder that the power of God is meant to give life and transform a fallen world.   Those three came down from that mountaintop bolstered in their resolve to be disciples and strengthened to share the Good News.

     Today the Church celebrates that moment in the great feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus.   It is a celebration of the wisdom that when we are one with the source of true power and glory, we are at peace and filled with joy, we are right with the world and right with God.   May our lives always be found in this wonderful moment.

     Ironically, today the world remembers the 72nd anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bomb, called "Little Boy" on the city of Hiroshima, Japan.  It happened on the morning of August 6, 1945.  A second such bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki on August 9th, this one named "Fat Man".  These bombs unleased a blinding fireball of light and cloud such as the world had never seen before.  It also unleased death and destruction upon Hiroshima (70,000 to 80,000 killed outright by the blast, with between 90,000 to 166,000 total deaths) and Nagasaki (60,000 to 80,000 deaths).  Most of these were civilians.  It brought about the end of the war with Japan.

     The genius of creative minds developed this ability, and political necessity justified its use.   But the moral implications have affected us ever since.  Some power is beyond our ability to use wisely.  Just because we can do something does not mean that we should do it.   Despite the good that may have come from the actions on those two days in August, we have unleashed a power that is not our right to possess or to use in order to take life.  We have lived in fear of others possessing such power ever since.   We have made ourselves into gods, rather than bringing ourselves into the reality of the one true God.   The road to redemption is repentance, prayer and fasting, and a renewed commitment to Christ rooted in a renewed commitment to the peace found only in Christ Jesus. 

An inspiration for parish priests

     I always love looking at the book of the saints, reading of their lives, and most especially seeing what they have been named "patron" of.  Some are highly unusual, while many make great sense and are easily understood.

     The saint of the day - John Marie Vianney - is the patron saint of parish priests.  For those who serve in parish ministry, his story gives hope and his example gives inspiration.  I have found him to be a favorite of mine since seminary days.

     His story is one of struggle and difficulty in his studies.  He desired to serve as a priest, but he was challenged academically, and could not master Latin or the philosophical training required (probably why I find him so relatable).  Yet he had a deep desire and a pervading spirituality that prompted the Church leaders to train him privately and to ordain him because of his virtue.  So that he would do no harm, they assigned him to a small, backwoods village in France named Ars-en-Dombes.  Nothing much happened there, especially on the spiritual level. 

     Pere John Mary Vianney became a noted catechist, spiritual director and confessor - spending most of the day in the confessional.  As his reputation spread, the little village  of no consequence became a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of pilgrims daily ... attending his liturgies and going to confession.  They came to see the "Cure of Ars" (the pastor of Ars) and to be blessed.  He served there from 1830 to 1845.

     The challenges of priesthood today are very different from the mid 1800's, and yet even more challenging.  The apathy found in a worldly Church has become a complacency with the status-quo.  The need to be spiritual, to bring and to be Christ to others is still vital to the life of the Church,  So pray for your priests, and remember those of us who are retired.

A new responsibility

     On Monday of this week I awoke early to travel the few miles from my new home to attend an Orientation Meeting for the new Board Members of St. Anne Home in Greensburg.  The Orientation was hosted and guided by Jeff Long, the President and CEO of St. Anne Home, assisted by a number of his staff.  I have been asked and have been approved to serve a three year term on the Board of Directors.  There are four of us who are joining the Board.

     St. Anne Home is a ministry of the Felician Sisters of North America dedicated to the continuing healing mission of Jesus Christ by providing a continuum of care and supportive services to adults, their families, and their caregivers.  Originally established in 1964 by the Diocese of Greensburg and placed under the care of the Felician Sisters, in April of 1996 St. Anne Home sponsorship was placed under the Felician Sisters as a non-profit corporation.  Originally built as a 125 bed facility, St. Anne Home has continued to expand facilities and programs to meet the every growing needs of God's People.

A service in one of the courtyards.

Entrance to St. Anne Home - Villa Angela building

     The meeting was long but interesting, and the great work being accomplished there, while long known and acknowledged by those in the Church and in the civic community, is a blessing to the residents and their families.  I am honored to lend my gifts to the ongoing ministry of St. Anne Home by serving on the Board of Directors.

     I myself have spent a few days of rehab following my knee replacement about seven years ago, and received great care.  I have known many of the Sisters and some of the staff over the years, and have been able to be supportive of the fundraising efforts and pastoral ministry through the Anointing Services.

     The core values of this important ministry within the Church are these:  St. Anne Home values Personhood ... People ... Community ... Our Physical Assets plus Teamwork and Communication. Information on the program and facilities can be found on their web site - www.stannehome.org

     Also present at the Orientation was Christy Kremer, the assistant Administrator, who reminded me that I witnessed the wedding of she and her husband while pastor at the Church of Saint Paul in Greensburg in 1995.  Another presentation was made by the Director of the Fund Raising Campaign who remembered me from my Scottdale days.  Her name has slipped my mind, and I do apologize.

     The Lord is good, and I entrust this new experience to his grace and mercy.