Christmas Giving ... A Gift

     At this Christmastime I would like to extend my best wishes and assure you of my heartfelt prayers in thanksgiving for the year past and expected blessings for the year to come.

     Christmas brings many memories, much emotion and a deepening of faith.  I will be celebrating at my sister, Jane's, at our family home.  We are of the age when material gifts are of lesser importance (although there will be a few of them).  Sharing faith ... being family ... giving love are the important things.  I recently saw the thought shown below and was inspired to share these thoughts with you as a part of my gift ... along with love and respect and great hope that these words will be taken to heart.

     Have a very joyous and peace-filled Christmas celebration and share the gift of yourself with the world.

A remarkable story

     Today, Tuesday, December 17th the Diocese of Greensburg will celebrate the passing of one of our oldest priests, Father Henry S. Preneta.  He died on the 12th of December at Saint Anne Home in Greensburg where he resided.  He served as a priest for 52 years.

     Father Preneta was born in Poland in 1926, and in his teenage years was forced to labor camp in Germany to work on German farms to free up German youth for military service.  When the war ended he came to the U.S.  Here he served in the United States Army for four years before beginning his seminary training that led to his ordination as a priest in 1967 at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.  Father Henry served in a number of parishes, spent a year in India ministering to the poor, and served as a chaplain in two Veterans Administration Medical Centers for 30 years.  He retired in 1999.
Please pray for the repose of his soul and express your thanks for his years of priestly service.

     A few weeks ago, on November 27th, we buried Father Ronald J. Rutkowski who died at the age of 82 having served as a priest for 50 years.

     These latest funerals got me thinking of the remarkable story of service that has touched the Diocese of Greensburg in our 68 years as a diocese.

    We have what we call a Necrology - a listing of those priests who have died since the beginning of the diocese, along with their dates of death.  Unfortunately this list does not give us the number of years of priestly service, so we will have to imagine.

     From May of 1951 until the present we have been served by 215 priests who have died.  162 of them have died since I was ordained in 1973.  Last year one of our Filipino priests who was assisting our diocese also died in the parish.  This 216 does not include the Religious priests who have served in diocesan parishes who have died.

     Including our Filipino and Religious priests in the parishes today, there are presently 68 active priests, with 28 men in retirement, many of whom are still ministering even in their retirement years.

     Now try to imagine the number of years of faithful service this adds up to!  It staggers the mind.  Their stories are varied and their personalities unique, but their service and sacrifice in the name of Christ and his Church is uplifting.  I know that looking back on my 46 plus years I am overwhelmed by the grace and blessings of God, to me and through me to others.  How blessed is the Diocese of Greensburg for the 310 priests who have served or are serving the spiritual needs of God's people over these 68 years.  Even though about 25 of these men have been accused (but not all convicted) of misconduct, and this causes us to pause and to prayerfully seek forgiveness and reconciliation, we can and must give thanks for the remarkable story of these countless years of faithful priestly service.  With Christmas around the corner we can reflect on the gift given by these men.

     The future may seem challenging, but looking at the past we are assured that the Lord is near ... in our midst ... and will provide for his Church.

Rejoice in the Lord always

     Years ago when I was active in the Charismatic Renewal we often sang a lively song that went like this and was sung in the round:

 "Rejoice in the Lord always,

again I say rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always,

again I say rejoice!

Rejoice!  Rejoice!

Again I say rejoice!

Rejoice!  Rejoice!

Again I say rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always,

… "

     These are the words of the Entrance Antiphon for this Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent.  They set the mood as we await the feast of the Lord's Nativity.  The reason given for rejoicing in the Lord always is simply that "Indeed, the Lord is near."

     Advent is moving fast.  This year has gone by very quickly.  Another decade is almost completed, and I for one could not have imagined welcoming in the year 2020 when I was a child.

     Rejoicing in what is and what could or will be is easier when you are young and full of anticipation and optimism and hope.  It may be easier in older age when our hope and expectation are focused on another dimension of life lived in the eternal glory of God.  However, there are more challenging aspects to rejoicing as we live our day to day existence in this world.  

     To be reminded on this Advent Sunday to rejoice is to be reminded that the coming of Jesus has already graced the world with the messianic promises made through the prophets and is echoed in the Church. The Lord has done great things for us.  We are blessed indeed.  And in that blessing we find it within ourselves to rejoice ... and to share our joy and hope with others.