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.