Choosing wisely

     We all know the story of Aladdin, the genie in the bottle.  The one who found the magic lamp and rubbed its side had a genie appear and was granted a wish.  Whatever they asked for would be granted.

     Today in the Scripture reading from the first Book of Kings, we fine no magic lamp, no genie and no need to do a rubbing.  But we do have a young man, Solomon, who has been designated as king to follow his renowned father, and the Lord.  God said to Solomon, "Ask something of me and I will give it to you."  What an opportunity.  Ask anything of me and it will be granted to you.  Your wish is my command.

     What would you ask for?  How would you use this unprecedented opportunity?

     The Lord was pleased with the request of Solomon.  He had asked for "an understanding heart", for a wisdom to lead and guide God's people, to judge them wisely and to distinguish right from wrong.  Although acknowledging the fact that he was a mere youth, inexperienced and not knowing how to act as a king, he wanted what would serve him well in governing "this vast people of yours."  He asked for a gift for the greater good rather than for his own interests.  And the Lord was pleased.

     The Lord pointed out that Solomon could have asked for anything - long life, riches or dominion - but chose to ask for understanding.  God said to him:

"I do as you requested.  I give you a heart so wise
and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you." 
His wisdom will be a benefit not only for Solomon but also for his kingdom. 

     In Jesus we are shown the way to be like Solomon, to seek the wisdom to be humble, to place our gifts at the service of others, to allow God to be Lord in our life.   And in Jesus we are gifted with wisdom and love.  For that, today, we praise our Lord.

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     Yesterday I had the blessing of meeting with a Sabbatical classmate from my Sabbatical in the Fall of 1996 at the School of Applied Theology (SAT) at Berkeley, California.  His name is Romy Lazlo, and he is now the bishop of the Diocese of San Jose de Antiqua in the Philippines.

     Bishop Lazlo had lunch with our bishop in the course of his pastoral visit to one of his priests who is serving in our diocese through our International Priests Program.  It was his first trip to Western Pennsylvania.  It was good to see him again, to share some of our memories, to show him my apartment, and to receive his blessing.   May the Lord continue to bless him in his ministry.

A New Day, A New Beginning, A New Place

     On a rainy Friday afternoon on this day in July, I have moved into my new home and officially began my retirement from active ministry.   The first day of retirement was Thursday, July 6th, but the apartment at the Diocesan Priests' Retirement Residence - Neumann House - was not ready until early this week.  After remaining at my previous residence these past three weeks through the very gracious kindness of my successor, Father John Moineau, the move happened these last few days, and I arrived officially this afternoon, in time for supper.  I have two nice rooms and a bath, and there is a chapel, dining facility, common rooms and beautiful grounds.  There are about fifteen men living here, and I have known them all for many years.  I am looking forward to my years here and developing my new vision of ministry as a priest.  The director of the facility told me that he felt bad about the delays in getting the apartment ready, and said that he felt like the airport tower advising me to keep circling the runway until the runway was clear.  I was running out of fuel, but now that I am here, there is the relief that comes with finally landing after a prolonged holding pattern.

     Neumann House is a retirement residence built years ago by the Diocese of Greensburg at the Bishop Connare Center, a retreat and conference center run by the Diocese that was originally our Minor High School Seminary, then called Saint Joseph Hall. 

     The complex opened in the Fall of 1962, and as a Sophomore in High School, I was a part of the founding group.  My arrival today marks fifty-five years since I first rode down the driveway and moved in.  The place has changed tremendously over the years, but the experience of beginning something new is the same.  Those early days helped prepare the present Father Len Stoviak ... may these next years continue the blessing.

Our Blessing

     For the past two years we in the Diocese of Greensburg have been blessed with the friendship and ministry of our shepherd, Bishop Edward Malesic.  He came to us at the invitation of Pope Francis from a ministry of pastoring a wonderful small parish in York Haven, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Harrisburg.  He was in the midst of building a new church building for that family.  I know that there was difficulty in leaving his good friends and neighbors at Holy Infants Parish.

     When he came to us, he did so as a pastor and a friend.  He embraced this Community of Faith as his own, and has immersed himself in the personal, everyday joys and challenges of life.  He brings wisdom (as evidenced by his acceptance of my retirement request!) and humor, warmth and joy to every encounter.  He is a good teacher and a wonderful listener.  As I said at the beginning, we are blessed.

     This past Thursday marked the second anniversary of his ordination as our bishop.  He celebrated the anniversary with a Mass at the Cathedral, along with the prayers of so many of the people of this Diocese.

Before Mass with Deacon Bill Hisker (my H.S. classmate) and soon to be deacon Dan Carr.

     The bishop immerses himself in his work.  Just this week, he celebrated a great Youth Honors Mass at the Cathedral last Sunday afternoon that I attended.  He pointed out as he so often does, that these young people are not "the future of the Church", but that they ARE the Church.  We had five from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish honored (I call them the "gang of five" - five great youngsters who are a blessing to the Church).

 Alex Kohanec, Sarah Rickard, Mark Downey, Jenn Henry & Paige Thornburg.

     The bishop is embarking on an educational campaign on the opioid crisis facing society and the Church, with a Pastoral Letter and a series of regional meetings that began this week.  He is promoting Vocations through Saint Andrew dinners, is meeting with various groups and folks, and yesterday ordained to the Transitional Diaconate a fine young man, Dan Carr, who has been studying in Rome and will continue to prepare for priesthood, God willing, next year.

Deacon Daniel Carr and Bishop Malesic.

     My gratitude to Bishop Malesic for his Shepherd's Heart, and our thanks to God for the blessing that we have received.

Our Benedictine Family

     Today the Church honors the memory and spirit of Saint Benedict of Nursia, who lived from 480 to 543 in what is Italy.  Benedict is known as the founder of western Monasticism, the founder of twelve communities before founding the great Abbey of Monte Casino, and is regarded as a patron of Europe and of Western civilization.  He is the giver of the great monastic Rule of Saint Benedict, which is the foundation of monastic life.

     On this feast of Saint Benedict, I reflect upon the gift of his family to my life and to the Church of Western Pennsylvania.  We are blessed in this Diocese to have Saint Vincent Archabbey, one of the largest Benedictine monastic communities anywhere, in our midst.  The members of this Community, under the pastoral leadership of Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, minister not only at the Abbey, with Monastery, College, Seminary, but through a multitude of other ministries throughout the world.  My ties to Saint Vincent go back to my High School days at the College Preparatory School and have continued through years of shared prayer, hospitality and ministry.  My memories are many and deeply cherished.

     Saint Vincent recently buried retired Archabbot Paul Maher on July 3rd.  Archabbot Paul was a very simple man of God who served with quiet zeal and spirituality.  He served as Archabbot from 1983 to 1990.  He was 91 years of age.  We offer our prayers to his family at Saint Vincent.

     Another part of the Benedictine Family are the Sisters of Saint Benedict at Saint Emma Monastery in Greensburg.  A small but dedicated group of women who pray with great intensity and offer Benedictine hospitality at their Retreat House and Bed and Breakfast, they are spirited by Mother Mary Ann, a real dynamo.  My priesthood retreat, and many subsequent retreats and days of recollection have brought me to their doorpost and to their hearts, and I am most grateful.

     There are another group of women of faith that I have worked with and befriended and they are found in the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh.  I served with them in Scottdale for a number of years, and have visited them at their new residence in Bakerstown, north of Pittsburgh.  Sister Karen Brink provides guidance to their leadership team.

     So, on this Feast of Saint Benedict of Nursia, I am grateful for the charisms that he brought to his family, and to the generous spirit that they have shared with me over the years.

The beginning

     The first days of retirement have been out of the ordinary to say the least.  On Thursday, retirement day, I slept late, got myself pulled together, and headed to my family home.  My sister, Jane, was having major surgery on Friday morning, and I planned on being there for her.  It was an unexpected way to begin this new chapter in my life, but then life is exciting.

     Before heading home to Uniontown, I stopped by the parish office to turn in my keys and other essential items.  While there speaking with Cathy, the secretary, two people came to the office looking for our Pastoral Associate.  They looked upset, so I asked if there was anything wrong.

     They had just lost their Mom, a longtime parishioner, and were upset that after all of her loyalty, their Mom could not be buried from our church.  I inquired about the circumstances and found out that in their grief they were upset to find out that Father John, the new pastor, wanted to schedule the funeral at 9:00 am (they wanted it at 10).  They had also heard that the family could not do a eulogy at the funeral Mass, and that Sister Charlene, the Pastoral Associate, would be doing the internment.  This was not satisfactory for the family.  I tried to reason with them in their grief, pointing out that no one was denying burial to their Mom ... that the time might have to do with scheduling (which was the case, with Father John having a funeral at 11 am at his other church) ... that many parishes do not permit a eulogy during the funeral Mass but encourage one at the Wake ... and that Sister usually did the committal service for my funerals because of my difficulty getting around at the cemeteries.  They understood that with me, but felt that Father John just didn't want to do it.  After a time of discussion, they did meet with Sister and as I understand it, the funeral took place at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton this morning.  What a difficult time for this family ... and what an introduction for Father John.  The thing that brought home the reality of retirement to me is that I could head for home and leave it to someone else to sort out.   My prayers are with the family.

     Janie had her surgery Friday morning at 7:30 (arrival at 5:45 am - so much for sleeping in) and all went well with the surgery.  There was a difficulty with intubation because of a narrow airway, which delayed the surgery for a short time, and meant that she needed to be kept on the tube for a while post-op.  With that in mind, after the tube was removed, they kept her in ICU to watch and monitor her breathing.  She stayed overnight, all is well, and I brought her home around Noon today.  She is resting, and somewhat sore from the surgery.  She had good care and a great staff at the Uniontown Hospital.  She will be doing some of her post-op with me.  I returned to North Huntingdon this evening, and am looking forward to celebrating the 11:00 am Mass this week at Saint Elizabeth Seton, at the request of the new pastor.  I am like a "bad penny" - they just can't get rid of me.

This is it - RETIREMENT

     My last post was on June 6th, a long time ago.  It has been a month filled with thoughts and remembrances, with a desire to post and yet a difficulty putting those thoughts and feelings into words, and as I mentioned in the last post a roller coaster of events and emotions.  Add to that the daunting task of packing and downsizing as you realize how much "treasure" you have accumulated over forty-four years.

     Tomorrow is July 6th, and the official date of the 2017 clergy summer assignments taking effect in the Greensburg diocese ... and thus my official date of retirement from active parish priestly ministry.    I turn over my keys to the kingdom and relinquish my responsibility to sign checks and pay parish bills.  I take on a new role, that of retired priest.   I must admit that when I was ordained, I never envisioned such a moment, and even now, ever since I requested retirement in January from Bishop Malesic due to health issues, I wonder if this is the right move.   Reality says YES, but the uncertainty of the future prompts me to say - are you sure.  But it is time, and I am ready for the next chapter.   Tomorrow I wake up and will no longer be pastor.  But tomorrow I will wake up and still be a priest of the Lord, continuing my journey and sharing the Good News in differing venues and opportunities.  It is exciting, and a bit frightening, so pray for me.

     The daily readings these past days have been about the call of Abram.  The Lord saw this good man and chose him for a purpose.  He told Abram that if he trusted the Lord, he would become the father of a people greater than the stars in the sky or the sands on the seashore.  God promised that he would be the God of Abram, and that Abram would be his son.  The only thing required was faith in God and trust in his word.

     But God told Abram to pack up everything and to move to a new land.  When asked where, God said that he would tell him when he got there.  Thrust him.  Abram did, and moved into the uncertain future with the assurance of faith.  And Abram was seventy-five at the time.

     As I heard these readings, I saw the Lord inviting me to "pack up" and move to a new land of opportunity, into an uncertain future but with the promise of the Lord's faithfulness.  And he reminded me that Abram (Abraham) was actually five years older than me when he trusted and moved on.  If he could do so and make a difference in the world, whom am I to doubt.

     So tomorrow begins a new experience of priesthood.  Some things will not change immediately - my apartment at Neumann House, the Priests' Retirement Residence in Greensburg is not yet ready for my move, so I will remain in my present residence for a few more weeks, thanks to the generosity of our new pastor, Father John Moineau.  But "all my bags are packed, I'm ready to go" and have survived the ordeal of downsizing.  The good-bye's have been many and very emotional.  My level of mental and physical exhaustion is high.  And I am ready to rest and relax, to re-create and renew, to adjust and unwind.

     JOURNEY THOUGHTS will continue to be an important part of my new life and ministry.  I will attempt to get back on track in sharing reflections from the Scriptures and personal stories and experiences.   I guess that I will have to change the subtitle of the blog, since I am no longer a parish priest, but I haven't found one that I like as yet ("reflections of an old timer" doesn't do it for me).  In the meantime, please pray for me as I enter this new phase of priesthood ... and I will pray for you, and be grateful for your faithful reading of these posts.