If memory serves me, today, the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, was the day I arrived at my assignment as pastor of the then All Saints Parish in Masontown. I arrived as the previous pastor was saying his farewell and pulling out (going to the parish that I was leaving). I would like to share some thoughts in regard to the surroundings that I found.
All Saints had been built by Father Francis Kolb in 1908 with the rectory/offices attached to the church building. Brick buildings, they had come to levels of disrepair over the years. The secretary and her offices were in a very small outer entrance chamber of the house. My first "renovation" was to expand and update her office, using a portion of an adjoining office that served the priest. I moved my office across the hall to the dining room, which was rarely used. The kitchen was a major undertaking and required a good deal of funds, but we never spent anything that we did not have. The kitchen was outdated (not even close to being an adequate description) with old rusted white metal cabinets, termite ridden floors, non insulated walls and floor, aging furniture and appliances. We made it functional and beautiful, as it still is today after twenty five years. There were some that criticized those expenditures and those changes made to the church and the school and the grounds, but they were not for me or the next guys, but in order to maintain and enhance the parish legacy.
I have lived in old houses and new, functional and inadequate, most often larger than the average house but rarely luxurious. Some had charm and some had major flaws. Some are no more (Irwin - torn down); some are used differently - as parish offices in Belle Vernon and Scottdale; some are not used at all like Connellsville and Greensburg. And the house I live in presently is the best of all my living situations, for which I am grateful. It is a neighborhood house in a quiet neighborhood "off campus". It is an asset of the parish. And these assets served those entrusted with ministry to those parishes.
With the "bling bishop" in Germany in the news about his living situation, and with a segment of our Catholic population locally critical of our bishop for a variety of conceived reasons, the local website that I mentioned before, who "banned" me, has established a "contest" to come up with ideas on how to use the "bishop's lavish mansion". To what depths have we sunk! What judgmental arrogance on the part of some. I have been in the house - larger than most homes but smaller than many ... comfortable but not plush. The same house given (I believe) to the Diocese early on in its history and lived in by Bishops Connare and Bosco (both very unpretentious men), suddenly has become an issue for some in their desire to put down Bishop Brandt. This part of the patrimony of the Diocese serves the man entrusted to serve as our bishop. How he lives (obviously within reason) should not matter, unless you have an axe to grind. To say that this drive to belittle and demean the one who is our spiritual father drives me crazy is an understatement. And the reason is that it is evil. A contest - called for by an un-named critic! What next?
Monday, October 28, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Convocation - 4
Finally on the subject of this past week's Convocation of priests, I would like to share thoughts on what for me became a very powerful moment. Each afternoon a panel of three priests share a little about their priesthood experiences - the first day about their first assignments and on the second day thoughts on a difficult assignment. They told stories of struggles of personality with brother priests who were their pastors, or of a less than affirming experience with a superior, or of a particularly difficult situation in pastoral ministry. They told these stories with humor, and with wisdom in lessons learned, and of hurt and pain that they had to face before a transforming healing experience took place. I admire these men for the courage to share their joys and sorrows, and I respect their privacy.
There was one man who shared a struggle that I was not aware of. He is a good priest, always gentle, always positive, always affirming. He told of his first assignment with a curmudgeon of a pastor that made entry into ministry less than easy. He told of excellent assignments that strengthened his priesthood. Then he told of an assignment that was a "dark night" for him, a time of hurt and tension that left him drained and ill, an experience that nearly incapacitated him. He handled this difficulty, first with God's grace, but also with much prayer and therapy.
This struggle and pain was caused not by his superiors, not by the assignment itself, not by the lack of support from his brother priests, but by a few very determined and extremely nasty and vicious parishioners who did not know the definition of charity and whose level of respect - both for the office of pastor but even more importantly for the person of the priest involved - was hard to find. They made things so bad that he dreaded (feared may be a better word) ministering at the altar. They were cruel to the extreme, and they caused him great pain. He shared much of this openly with us, and as I said, I am in deep admiration of the man. Difficult as the struggle was, he did not allow it to embitter him or hamper him from being a bearer of the Lord's love. He came away hurt and changed, but stronger and better.
Do people know how cruel they can be at times? How demanding? How intolerant? How hateful? How destructive? I'm not sure. What I do know is that great as priesthood is, these days you are a target. And those who denigrate and disrespect the person or the office, especially publicly, need to come before the Lord and ask for forgiveness. There is some of that surfacing in the local Church these days, and it is undermining the fabric of the faith of our people.
May the Lord continue to bless this priest ... may he continue to bless this local Church ... and may he continue to bring us peace and joy of heart.
There was one man who shared a struggle that I was not aware of. He is a good priest, always gentle, always positive, always affirming. He told of his first assignment with a curmudgeon of a pastor that made entry into ministry less than easy. He told of excellent assignments that strengthened his priesthood. Then he told of an assignment that was a "dark night" for him, a time of hurt and tension that left him drained and ill, an experience that nearly incapacitated him. He handled this difficulty, first with God's grace, but also with much prayer and therapy.
This struggle and pain was caused not by his superiors, not by the assignment itself, not by the lack of support from his brother priests, but by a few very determined and extremely nasty and vicious parishioners who did not know the definition of charity and whose level of respect - both for the office of pastor but even more importantly for the person of the priest involved - was hard to find. They made things so bad that he dreaded (feared may be a better word) ministering at the altar. They were cruel to the extreme, and they caused him great pain. He shared much of this openly with us, and as I said, I am in deep admiration of the man. Difficult as the struggle was, he did not allow it to embitter him or hamper him from being a bearer of the Lord's love. He came away hurt and changed, but stronger and better.
Do people know how cruel they can be at times? How demanding? How intolerant? How hateful? How destructive? I'm not sure. What I do know is that great as priesthood is, these days you are a target. And those who denigrate and disrespect the person or the office, especially publicly, need to come before the Lord and ask for forgiveness. There is some of that surfacing in the local Church these days, and it is undermining the fabric of the faith of our people.
May the Lord continue to bless this priest ... may he continue to bless this local Church ... and may he continue to bring us peace and joy of heart.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Convocation - 3
As I mentioned earlier, our Priests' Convocation looked at evangelization and reconciliation from a broad perspective. One of the exercises that we performed was to answer three questions on a form given us, sign our names and date the paper, seal it in an envelope and turn it in. These were then placed before the altar at our Eucharist in Ss Simon and Jude Church in Blairsville that afternoon and then returned to us by Bishop Brandt at the end of the liturgy. The questions were:
1. What do people need today?
2. What do people need from me?
3. What am I willing to give?
My response to all three questions was the same:
1. What do people need today?
2. What do people need from me?
3. What am I willing to give?
My response to all three questions was the same:
ACCEPTANCE - WELCOME - MERCY - HOPE
People need to be accepted where they are ... they need to know and feel that they are welcome ... they need to be shown mercy first ... and this will lead to a faith filled with hope. As a priest, these are gifts that I can and have tried to share with those who share the journey with me.
Our liturgy that afternoon was the annual Mass for the deceased bishops and priests who have served in the Diocese of Greensburg. This year we were fortunate to have only lost one diocesan priest to death - retired Bishop Anthony G. Bosco on July 2nd. We prayed for him as well as for Bishops Hugh L. Lamb (our first bishop), William G. Connare (second bishop), and the 188 other priests who have died in the 62 year history of this diocese. Of those, 138 have died since I was ordained in May of 1973. This does not include our brothers from the Religious Orders - Benedictines, Carmelites, Franciscans, Paulines and others who have also served this local Church. Some of these men are not remembered by those of us still here. Some are remembered with loving affection and some with interesting stories that do not always bring back fond memories. But all served the People of God in this Diocese to the best of their abilities. I thought of the years of service represented in this list, and the impact that these men had on the faithful. We must be grateful to God for the gift that they have been - the blessing or the challenge found in their ministry. We must also be grateful to those who are presently serving this local Church. We must be grateful for the service and talents of the many who have left active ministry for a variety of reasons (most recently Father Joe Trupkovich).
Priesthood today is not like it was sixty-two years ago, or forty years ago, or even as it was just a few years ago ... and yet IT IS the same. Your priests need your prayers and support, your love and acceptance. I have included our group photo taken following the Mass on Tuesday in Blairsville (picture courtesy of Mary Seaman of the Diocesan Communications Office). We are a smaller yet still mighty presbyterate here in the Diocese of Greensburg. I am glad to have them as my brothers.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Convocation thoughts - 2
I mentioned yesterday that as we looked once again at the numbers facing us in the future by way of available clergy in twelve years, we could be overwhelmed with the uncertainty of how the future will play out. Our discussion at the Convocation of Priests focused in the next days upon evangelization and reconciliation in concrete rather than theoretical ways.
One hurdle to overcome is a tendency to see ourselves as messiahs, as the leaders who must be in the forefront of everything and involved in every aspect of parish life. This tendency presents itself because at one time the priest was thought to be the most educated, the better trained, and the leader of the local community. People's expectations at times have not changed that much, even though reality has changed - they still want Father to be at every meeting, at every gathering, always available. Some priests enjoy that, some thrive on it, some are great at it, but as these next years progress, we may find those practices in need of adaptation. Our priorities might need to transition into focusing primarily on a spiritual, liturgical and sacramental experience of service. We cannot do it all. We cannot be messiahs (we already have one).
In our program booklet there was a page that was introduced as
"Archbishop Oscar Romero Prayer: A Step Along the Way". The note at the bottom of the page read:
One hurdle to overcome is a tendency to see ourselves as messiahs, as the leaders who must be in the forefront of everything and involved in every aspect of parish life. This tendency presents itself because at one time the priest was thought to be the most educated, the better trained, and the leader of the local community. People's expectations at times have not changed that much, even though reality has changed - they still want Father to be at every meeting, at every gathering, always available. Some priests enjoy that, some thrive on it, some are great at it, but as these next years progress, we may find those practices in need of adaptation. Our priorities might need to transition into focusing primarily on a spiritual, liturgical and sacramental experience of service. We cannot do it all. We cannot be messiahs (we already have one).
In our program booklet there was a page that was introduced as
"Archbishop Oscar Romero Prayer: A Step Along the Way". The note at the bottom of the page read:
* This prayer was composed by Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw,
drafted for a homily by Card. John Dearden in Nov. 1979
for a celebration of departed priests.
As a reflection on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop Romero,
Bishop Untener included in a reflection book a passage entitled
"The mystery of the Romero Prayer."
The mystery is that the words of the prayer are attributed to Oscar Romero,
but they were never spoken by him.
Archbishop Oscar Romero Prayer: A Step Along the Way
It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything,
and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning,
a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord's grace
to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference between the master builder
and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders;
ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw
These words resonated with me, and gave me a lot to think about. I hope they do so for you as well.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Convocation Thoughts - 1
I have just returned from our annual Diocesan Priests' Convocation at the Chestnut Ridge Conference Center in Blairsville, PA, a town in our diocese. This event, held every October, is for all of the active priests of the diocese, and seeks to not only bring us together for fellowship but to address issues that relate to our identity as priests. We began after lunch on Monday and concluded today. Led this year by Dr. Paul Niemiec of our Catholic Charities staff [who told me that he is a regular reader of this blog - thanks, Paul] and coordinated by Father Mike Sikon, I would like to share a few thoughts in the next few posts on this year's gathering.
One of the things that was an eye opener for me was the way we began. In a large meeting room, we gathered around round tables - 6 or 8 at a table. There were also chairs set up in the back of the room, and a few chairs set up on the side of the room. Our first exercise, after welcome and prayer, was to respond when our name was called and go to or stay at one of the sections. Paul began calling the names from the oldest to the youngest, with those up to a certain point taking the rear rows of chairs. These would be the men that would be retired in the next twelve years (by 2025). He then called the names of the Religious Order priests and our brothers from the Philippines, who sat in the side section. He then pointed out that those remaining at the round tables were the priests who would be serving this diocese in 2025.
The numbers were not new, but the visual impact was astounding. There were about 40 priests in the rear of the room, about nine representing clergy who assist us in ministry from outside of the diocese, and about 23 priests left at the tables. Almost everyone was in attendance, and thus the numbers were not out of whack. Our stats have for years indicated that by 2025 there would be about 27 priests serving the Diocese of Greensburg. To see it in actuality, and to realize that most of these 27 or so will be in their fifties and sixties, was eye opening.
This led to a discussion of how we can be supportive of each other and also of the example that our Filipino brothers bring us of huge numbers of the Faithful ministered to by a small amount of clergy - it requires an adaptation of roles and expectations. In my next post I will share a prayer that was printed in our booklets that addressed that different approach. I think that we, the priests, see this challenge to the near future far better that most of our laity, who think that the info and facts shared are simply threats that have nothing to do with them - until it touches their lives. And then the Church has abandoned them. Yet where do vocations come from? Is it not the family, the home, the parishes, the laity praying for and encouraging vocations?
One of the things that was an eye opener for me was the way we began. In a large meeting room, we gathered around round tables - 6 or 8 at a table. There were also chairs set up in the back of the room, and a few chairs set up on the side of the room. Our first exercise, after welcome and prayer, was to respond when our name was called and go to or stay at one of the sections. Paul began calling the names from the oldest to the youngest, with those up to a certain point taking the rear rows of chairs. These would be the men that would be retired in the next twelve years (by 2025). He then called the names of the Religious Order priests and our brothers from the Philippines, who sat in the side section. He then pointed out that those remaining at the round tables were the priests who would be serving this diocese in 2025.
The numbers were not new, but the visual impact was astounding. There were about 40 priests in the rear of the room, about nine representing clergy who assist us in ministry from outside of the diocese, and about 23 priests left at the tables. Almost everyone was in attendance, and thus the numbers were not out of whack. Our stats have for years indicated that by 2025 there would be about 27 priests serving the Diocese of Greensburg. To see it in actuality, and to realize that most of these 27 or so will be in their fifties and sixties, was eye opening.
This led to a discussion of how we can be supportive of each other and also of the example that our Filipino brothers bring us of huge numbers of the Faithful ministered to by a small amount of clergy - it requires an adaptation of roles and expectations. In my next post I will share a prayer that was printed in our booklets that addressed that different approach. I think that we, the priests, see this challenge to the near future far better that most of our laity, who think that the info and facts shared are simply threats that have nothing to do with them - until it touches their lives. And then the Church has abandoned them. Yet where do vocations come from? Is it not the family, the home, the parishes, the laity praying for and encouraging vocations?
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Giving human flesh to Jesus
In a ceremony in Saint Peter's Square this past Saturday honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary in this Year of Faith, Pope Francis said this regarding Mary:
" A second aspect is that Mary's faith gave human flesh to Jesus. As the Council [Vatican II] says: 'Through her faith and obedience, she gave birth on earth to the very Son of the Father, without knowing man but by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit' (Lumen Gentium, 63). This was a point on which the Fathers of the Church greatly insisted: Mary first conceived Jesus in faith and then in the flesh, when she said 'yes' to the message God gave her through the angel. What does this mean? It means that God did not want to become man by bypassing our freedom; he wanted to pass through Mary's free assent, through her 'yes'. He asked her: 'Are you prepared for this?' And she replied: 'Yes'.
But what took place most singularly in the Virgin Mary also takes place within us, spiritually, when we receive the word of God with a good and sincere heart and put it into practice. It is as if God takes flesh within us; he comes to dwell in us, for he dwells in all who love him and keep his word. It is not easy to understand this, but really, it is easy to feel it in out heart.
Do we think that Jesus' incarnation is simply a past event which has nothing to do with us personally? Believing in Jesus means giving him our flesh with the humility and courage of Mary, so that he can continue to dwell in our midst. It means giving him our hands, to caress the little ones and the poor; our feet, to go forth and meet our brothers and sisters; our arms, to hold up the weak and to work in the Lord's vineyard; our minds, to think and act in the light of the Gospel; and especially to offer our hearts to love and to make choices in accordance with God's will. All this happens thanks to the working of the Holy Spirit. And in this way we become instruments in God's hands, so that Jesus can act in the world through us."
Simple but powerful words to call to mind. I like Francis' challenging words.
" A second aspect is that Mary's faith gave human flesh to Jesus. As the Council [Vatican II] says: 'Through her faith and obedience, she gave birth on earth to the very Son of the Father, without knowing man but by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit' (Lumen Gentium, 63). This was a point on which the Fathers of the Church greatly insisted: Mary first conceived Jesus in faith and then in the flesh, when she said 'yes' to the message God gave her through the angel. What does this mean? It means that God did not want to become man by bypassing our freedom; he wanted to pass through Mary's free assent, through her 'yes'. He asked her: 'Are you prepared for this?' And she replied: 'Yes'.
But what took place most singularly in the Virgin Mary also takes place within us, spiritually, when we receive the word of God with a good and sincere heart and put it into practice. It is as if God takes flesh within us; he comes to dwell in us, for he dwells in all who love him and keep his word. It is not easy to understand this, but really, it is easy to feel it in out heart.
Do we think that Jesus' incarnation is simply a past event which has nothing to do with us personally? Believing in Jesus means giving him our flesh with the humility and courage of Mary, so that he can continue to dwell in our midst. It means giving him our hands, to caress the little ones and the poor; our feet, to go forth and meet our brothers and sisters; our arms, to hold up the weak and to work in the Lord's vineyard; our minds, to think and act in the light of the Gospel; and especially to offer our hearts to love and to make choices in accordance with God's will. All this happens thanks to the working of the Holy Spirit. And in this way we become instruments in God's hands, so that Jesus can act in the world through us."
Simple but powerful words to call to mind. I like Francis' challenging words.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Getting through
I have not posted much this week because I have what so many around me have - a summer/fall head cold. It began last Sunday with a scratchy throat and by Tuesday was a full fledged head cold with lots of congestion and a head that seemed like it was encased in concrete. No fever or flu symptoms, no aches or pains, just congestion and tiredness. Even tonight as I was preparing for liturgy, none of my thoughts were coming together and my level of inspiration was almost non existent. I was even tempted to not preach! Almost.
Between the head cold, the pundants and politicians on the political front, the discontent/crisis promoters on the diocesan front, the self promoting/self destructive actions of people I know or see on TV or the news, all I could see was a spreading darkness, a deadly fog setting in, and evil spirit that commanded our attention. All I could see were "large talking heads" (like the one on the Snickers commercial - the "horseless headsman" confused and bumbling) talking at but not to others, absorbed in themselves rather than the common good of others, frightening in their disconnect from reality. I realize that much of this for me is the cold - my physical condition. But I also realize that the power of darkness loves moments like this, loves situations that focus us on building up ourselves rather than our sisters and brothers, occasions where respect and honor and civility are not to be upheld and practiced, loves the sidelining of God.
Upon a people who walked in darkness a great light has shone. To a people that find little to hope for a hope is given in Jesus Christ. To a people swept up in the evil and emptiness of the day, redemption and mercy, forgiveness and life have been given. And thank God for those who continue to point out that truth with joy and simplicity. Thank God for his inspiration tonight that allowed me to preach rather than remain silent. There is too much silence as it is ... too little proclaiming of the Good News.
Between the head cold, the pundants and politicians on the political front, the discontent/crisis promoters on the diocesan front, the self promoting/self destructive actions of people I know or see on TV or the news, all I could see was a spreading darkness, a deadly fog setting in, and evil spirit that commanded our attention. All I could see were "large talking heads" (like the one on the Snickers commercial - the "horseless headsman" confused and bumbling) talking at but not to others, absorbed in themselves rather than the common good of others, frightening in their disconnect from reality. I realize that much of this for me is the cold - my physical condition. But I also realize that the power of darkness loves moments like this, loves situations that focus us on building up ourselves rather than our sisters and brothers, occasions where respect and honor and civility are not to be upheld and practiced, loves the sidelining of God.
Upon a people who walked in darkness a great light has shone. To a people that find little to hope for a hope is given in Jesus Christ. To a people swept up in the evil and emptiness of the day, redemption and mercy, forgiveness and life have been given. And thank God for those who continue to point out that truth with joy and simplicity. Thank God for his inspiration tonight that allowed me to preach rather than remain silent. There is too much silence as it is ... too little proclaiming of the Good News.
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