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!

    

Father Dennis Colamarino

     I have a seminary classmate that I have mentioned before on these pages named Father Dennis Colamarino.  He has served as a priest in the Pittsburgh Diocese for the past forty-two years, and for thirty-one of those years in the City of Duquesne at Christ, Light of the World parish.  He has also in recent years been dealing with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.  Dennis lost his battle with this debilitating disease on Saturday morning and accepted the gift of Eternal Life that Christ won for him long ago.  Please pray for Dennis and the people of his parish and family as they mourn their loss.  More stories on him later.

     Back in May of last year I posted about a visit with Dennis at his parish in a piece called "Inspiring".  I would like to share it with you here in tribute.

"Friday, May 23, 2014

Inspiring

     This Friday afternoon Father Chet Raimer (one of our retired priests) and I visited a seminary classmate from the Pittsburgh Diocese at his parish in Duquesne, Pennsylvania.  His name is Father Dennis Colamarino, and he has served as the pastor in Duquesne for thirty one of his forty one years of priesthood, an outstanding accomplishment in these days of frequent moves.  Every time his term was up they gave him another parish to minister to, and presently he administers three parishes in the town.  Duquesne was once a thriving, proud, and prosperous mill town but now, without the mills, it faces challenges in all areas of life.  It is a shadow of its former self, and yet those who remain still take pride.

     We went to visit Dennis who is dealing with a form of ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease and within the past year has been presented with challenges, giving up driving this past Easter for safety reasons the most recent.   He uses a walker and any good strong arm to lean on in order to get around.   And yet his energy level, his work ethic, his love of ministry, his commitment to the people that he has served for so long is astounding.  But that is Dennis.  Dennis has never been one to understate things, or remain quietly in the background, or be perceived as retiring.  Far from it.  Dennis has always been, well, Dennis - the life of the party, the center of attention, outspoken, dynamic, "in your face" in the best sense, and the "energizer bunny".  He could, in fact does, fit into the description in the title of this piece.

     But who I find inspiring in this story are the people of the parishes and of the town.  After thirty one years he has found himself immersed in the lives of these good people, and they love him.  They hurt with him in his illness, they laugh with him in his humor, they cry with him in his moments of reflecting upon the future, they accept his "over-the-top-ness" (a word?) as his just being Dennis, and they pray with him and for him with love in their hearts.  They also have and continue to do much to keep him as their pastor, to assist him in countless ways, helping him to get around and function.  They have ramped and modified steps and chairs and countless things to make it easier for him.  These good people, parishioners and staff and friends, whose lives are intertwined with his, are to me truly inspiring.  I thank God that Denny has them in his life ... I know that he is grateful as well.  They are his daily family.  They are inspiring. "

 

Our lunch gathering: Father Dennis is in the bright yellow shirt.

Another classmate, Father David Schorr (in the center of the back row) passed away before Christmas.

 



     I received the following comment from an anonymous person on March 28th:

Beautiful!  Fr. Dennis is a blessing to this world; he accepts all and is the spirit of Christ here on earth.  As he passes on to his new life, may God give us the strength and graces needed to emulate such acceptance to live what Jesus taught.

AMEN!