8th Grade Graduation

     Despite an evening of steady rain, torrential at time, with lightning and thunder, I was honored to be a part of a wonderful celebration of the Norwin Catholic Community and our neighbors as we recognized the accomplishments of the Eighth Grade Students of Queen of Angels, our Regional Catholic School, and to acknowledge their moving onward.  We did this by way of the 23rd Graduation Liturgy this evening at Saint Agnes Church.  Monsignor Paul Fitzmaurice, the pastor, led us in prayer and was joined by five other local priests, the faculty and administration and many family and friends of our nine graduates of 2015.  As I mentioned, this is the 23rd graduation ceremony for Queen of Angels, which is the Regional Catholic School in our area serving Pre-K through Grade eight.  But Catholic School education goes way back in this area and preceded Queen of Angels in Immaculate Conception, Saint Agnes and Saint Edward Schools.  We have a great school, excellent faculty and staff, and committed parents.  The challenges are many, financially and enrollment wise, but we strive to continue the long and strong  commitment to Catholic Education in this area.

     Father John Moineau, the president of our Board of Trust Administrators (the five sponsoring pastors) shared words of inspiration and presented the awards.  Each pastor presented their graduate with their certificate.   The class had chosen as their motto this quote:

"Friends are like your favorite books:

you keep them with you

until you know them by heart."

 

     Being a part of a small class allows you to know and cherish the memories that you have of your friends, and I am sure that Cole, Claire, Hannah, Katherine, Lacey, Nolan, Mary Alice, Carley and Layla will find that true.  As our Principal, Mrs. Sandi Stonebraker expressed in the program -

 

"We wish our eighth grade students the best as they move on to a new school.  Our thoughts and prayers go with you always.

God bless you."

 

 

To that sentiment I add my own

CONGRATULATIONS!

 

ps 

If you had an Eighth Grade Graduation, do you remember it?

I do ... but could not find the picture of our class standing on the steps of the old Saint Joseph Church in Uniontown.  Our Assistant at the time, Father Anthony Wozniak, is one of our retired priests.

A day to remember

     While today in Western Pennsylvania is warm and rainy and dreary, forty-two years ago the day dawned bright and sunny and a bit cool.  It was then, on May 5, 1973, that the late Bishop William G. Connare ordained four men for the priesthood in the Diocese of Greensburg at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in the city of Greensburg.  Those ordained that day were V. Paul Fitzmaurice, Peter L. Peretti, Roger Statnick and yours truly, Leonard Stoviak.  All of us, by the way, are still in active ministry serving the People of God in the Diocese of Greensburg (a minor miracle in this day and age).  I recall being very nervous as we began that trek to the altar, and at the same time feeling great peace and joy.  A special joy was that my dad had been chosen to do one of the readings, and I was very proud.  Mom, dad and Janie sat in the front pew, along with the other parents, and their pride was obvious. 

    The ordination was a blur of activity, but two things stood out for me - the powerful prayers of the community over us as the Litany of the Saints was sung by all and the quiet power of the imposition of hands by Bishop Connare.





     My priesthood has been a blessing for me and I hope a source of blessing for the countless people that I have had the honor to know and serve.  Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has composed a prayer for the upcoming Holy Year of Mercy in which he says:

" ... You willed that your ministers

would also be clothed in weakness

in order that they may feel compassion

for those [who come to them]:

let everyone who approaches them feel

sought after,

loved,

and forgiven by God."

 

     In my years of ministry, and in my weakness, I hope that those whose lives I have touched feel sought after, loved and forgiven by God."  God is indeed very gracious to us all.

A great sister and a good friend

     Blessings come to us in many forms and a variety of circumstances.  My blessings are abundant, and I give thanks to the Lord for them daily.  One of my greatest blessings is the gift of my sister, Jane, who over the years has become one of my best friends as well as a fiercely loyal and loving sister.  Today is her birthday ... a significant one in that she turns sixty-five today ... and while you should never tell the age of a lady, I am sure that this birthday, which is even more significant because she also signed up for social security and will be retiring in mid June after forty-five years in retail, is worthy of mention and celebration.  In fact, I plan on taking her out to dinner later today.  Janie was also gracious enough to share her birthday with me forty-two years ago when I was ordained a priest at the ordination ceremony that began at 10:00 am on May 5, 1973.  



A very Happy Birthday, Janie!

A good choice of a good shepherd

     On this Good Shepherd Sunday, it is worth noting that the initial response of the people of the parish and elsewhere to their introduction to Bishop-elect Edward C. Malesic is positive - they are hopeful that our new shepherd will indeed be a "good shepherd": in the model of Jesus.  I was not able to attend the press conference on Friday (because of a funeral) but as I watched it on the diocesan media outlets I was impressed by his simple, pastoral approach, his sense of humor, and his unassuming demeanor.  The fact that he has much parish experience and ministry on four different campus settings will serve him well in this down to earth and faith filled diocese.  I am convinced that the phrase in John's Gospel today that " ...I know mine and mine know me..." will become the hallmark of Bishop-elect Malesic.  His episcopal motto - "Serve the Lord with gladness" - will also bring inspiration to the people of this local church.  The photos that follow are from the press conference held in Greensburg on Friday, April 24th and  from Holy Infant's web site of their pastor preparing to clear the land for the groundbreaking (held March 15th of this year) of their new church.  Again, welcome Bishop-elect Malesic.



The long awaited good news

     After a well attended recognition and fund raising event last evening at the annual Salt and Light dinner sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg, during which Bishop Lawrence Brandt expressed his gratitude for his eleven years as our Diocesan Bishop, it was announced at 6:00 am this morning in Washington (Noon Rome time), that the Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Bishop Brandt at having reached the age limit.  Also announced was the naming of the new bishop-elect, Father Edward C. Malesic, a priest of the Diocese of Harrisburg and pastor of Holy Infant parish in York Haven, PA.  Fifty-four years of age, Bishop-Elect Malesic will be ordained and installed as the fifth bishop of Greensburg on Monday, July 13, 2015 at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg.  More to come, but for now I have a funeral later this morning that I need to prepare for.



    We are grateful to Bishop Brandt and express a warm welcome to Bishop-elect Malesic.

Invited to the Table

     The past two Saturday's saw twenty-two of our youngsters in the parish receive the Sacrament of the Eucharistic for the first time.  The beauty of the First Holy Communion celebrations is traditionally a high point in the Spring in parishes, and this was no exception here at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish.  The youngsters were wonderful - excited, expectant, a little nervous, handsome and beautiful in their suits and dresses, and ready to step up to the Table with their parents and families to welcome Jesus into their lives in this most special way.

     We celebrate First Communion at two special liturgies on Saturday mornings a week apart.  Over the years I have experienced any number of variations to the procedure, but this works best for us here in the parish.  This year both days were lovely, with sunshine and warmth, and the church, decorated still for Easter, set the stage for a memorable event.  I usually invite the First Communicants to join me at the altar for the Eucharistic Prayer, and to bring them up close and to see the excitement in their eyes, is a joy.  And then the moment - "The Body of Christ" ... "Amen" ~~~ "The Blood of Christ" ... "Amen".  They have joined "the grownups" at the "grownup's table" and they will find nourishment for the journey of their lifetime.

     It is one of the great joys of a priest to share these sacramental moments with those called by the Lord, especially the invitation to the table of the Lord.  I told each group at the beginning of the liturgy that

This is the day that the Lord has made,

let us be glad and rejoice in it!

Easter and beyond - catching up

     My last post was March 30th, and since then much has transpired.  The most important moments were found in the celebration of the Paschal Mysteries of Holy Week and the Triduum.  It is unfortunate that in our parish, at least, these most sacred and blessed of days see a smaller number of the faithful  than usual gather for worship.  Our Chrism Mass was celebrated on the morning of Holy Thursday at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg.  The liturgy was beautiful, full of pomp and gusto, and was led for the twelfth time by our diocesan bishop, Lawrence Brandt. 

 



     At the luncheon following the Mass, while we awaited the readying of the Holy Oils, I had the honor of sitting with a classmate of mine, Bill Hisker, one of our two permanent deacons and his wife, Vera, as well as three of our "deacons-to-be" and their wives (they are looking forward to ordination to the diaconate in mid June).  One of those men, Jeff Cieslewicz, is a parishioner at our parish and another, Bill Newhouse is a long time friend.  Lunch was delicious, the company enjoyable, and God's blessing manifold.

     The Mass of the Lord's Supper in the parish was simple and prayerful.  We usually follow with a visit to a number of churches in the area (this year two) where about twenty-five travelled to watch and pray.





     Our Good Friday Celebration was also a blessed time.  There was a moment in my early priesthood when I felt this service very disjointed, but a number of years ago I discerned to take my time and pray my way through the three parts of the afternoon service.  The evening saw Tenebrae celebrated in all of its stark simplicity.

 



     The Vigil began at 8:30 pm according to local dictate, and apart from the difficulty lighting the taper for the lighting of the Easter Candle, it too was a beautiful celebration of faith.  We used all of the readings and responses, which makes it long, but why settle for the Reader's Digest Condensed version when you can listen to the whole story of salvation.  We welcomed a young man, Jared Orth, into the Church and I shared the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist with him.  I received a beautiful letter from his mom and dad today, thanking me and us for welcoming their son and his family into our community.  Our Easter morning masses were jammed.  It was a good but exhausting Easter.

 



     Last Friday I attend the Vigil Service for the funeral of my classmate, Father Dennis Colamarino of the Pittsburgh Diocese.  I have written about Dennis before, and the outpouring of love and affection felt at his funeral liturgies (Friday night and the funeral on Saturday) was overwhelming.

     I was not able to attend his funeral on Saturday because we had the first of two First Holy Communion Masses that morning - the other is this Saturday.  Again, beautiful Spring weather, great and eager youngsters, proud families, and an awesome occasion made for a wonderful day.

     Throw in a funeral for the mom of one of our priests, Father Tom Federline and Msgr Jim Gaston's mom's funeral this Saturday, and the death of one of our retired priests in Florida, Father Walt Bratus, and it has been a long and tiring few week.  But Spring is here, Easter is being celebrated, life is good, and God's People are very supportive - which makes Life Worth Living!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today is April 15th:

     150 years ago President Abraham Lincoln died early in the morning after being shot the night before at Ford's theater.
     103 years ago today the H.M.S. Titanic sunk with a tremendous loss of life.
     And today is Income Tax Deadline Day!