As I mentioned in my last post, our Junior Youth Ministry, along with a number of others, journeyed to Loretto, Pennsylvania, for a pilgrimage/journey. We had a great day, even though it was a bit cool in the mountains of Central PA. One of the reasons that we travelled to Loretto was because of its founder, Father Demetrius Gallitzin, the founding pastor of the small Catholic Community. I thought I would share a little about Father Gallitzin.
Demetrius Gallitzin was born in the late 1700's to Russian Count Dimitri Alexeivich Gallitzin and German Countess Adelheid Amalie von Schmettau Gallitzin in the Hague, where Demetrius' father served as ambassador to the Netherlands. The Gallitzin's were known in the court of Catherine the Great, and were, according to accounts, vast landowners. A lady that gave us background info said that at one time the family owned land greater in size than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Demetrius received the best education, and his father had high hopes for a military career. But Demetrius was not drawn to the military or Russian aristocracy, but rather to his mother's newly adopted Roman Catholic Faith. At the age of seventeen he was baptized Catholic, much to his father's objection. It was customary to travel to broaden one's education, and with the turmoil in Europe, Prince Demetrius, as he was called, was sent to the United States, arriving in Baltimore on October 28, 1792, where he was introduced to Bishop John Carroll. Following a call to the religious life, he attended seminary in the U.S. and was one of the first priests ordained in this country on March of 1795. After serving a number of missions, he undertook in 1799 the establishment of a Catholic settlement in Cambria County in the Allegheny mountains which he named Loretto, after the Marian shrine in Italy. He served there and in the area until his death in 1840. He became a naturalized citizen in 1802. His legacy continues to live on.
The cause for his road to sainthood has begun, and he was declared a "Servant of God" by the Vatican on June 6, 2005. A "Servant of God" designation acknowledges that this person is worthy of the attention of God's people. His life is being studied as the process continues. I have included a picture of his desk with picture and books found in his residence, and a picture of our group gathered in the Chapel/House that he had built.
Every year the Junior Youth Ministry from the neighboring parishes, along with parents and others, and under the guidance of our Pastoral Associate, Felician Sister Charlene, make a trip or pilgrimage in the Spring. I tag along for support and Mass. In the last few years we have gone to Emmittsburg and DC.
Tomorrow is our trip for 2012. We are off to my old stomping grounds - Loretto, Pennsylvania - nestled in the mountains between Altoona and Johnstown. Loretto is a small hamlet founded by the priest, Father Demetrius Gallitzin, who was a Russian nobleman (prince) who converted to Catholicism, gave up his legacy, came to the New World and was ordained a priest, and established this small Catholic settlement called Loretto. Loretto is known for the University that is its mainstay - Saint Francis University - operated by the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars (TOR). There is also a quiet and beautiful and prayerful Carmelite Monastery located in the town, as well as the Chapel/House of Father Gallitzin and the local Church of Saint Michael, which is a minor basilica. Loretto also housed the summer home of steel magnate Charles Schwab, whose house and gardens are now a part of the Franciscan Monastery. We plan on visiting, praying, being inspired, dining at these sites and coming home renewed. I'll fill you in on the day later.
The last thing that I want to point out to those on the trip is my former seminary at Saint Francis, where I finished college and spent my theology years. We are not able to stop and tour the place because of the double barbed wire fence around the grounds and the security guards at the gate. My seminary has been closed since 1979 and is now a prison - a Federal Correctional Institution (a low security facility). I jokingly say that all they did was change the locks, clean up the place, and put a fence around the grounds. I wonder who is in my old room? All in all it promises to be an informative trip.
That describes the last two days in my life, somewhat confused, clearly frustrated and making no headway. Most of my challenges where computer and phone generated. Despite this blog, I am a novice at the computer, and seem to be knowledgeable only when things are operating well. These past two days were a true challenge. My printer at the office read "paper jam" with absolutely no discernible piece of paper to be found in the machine. Rebooting did not help. Of course, when you are printerless you find a multitude of things that need printed.
I had an overlapping credit card bill/payment problem that the automated phone program made doubly difficult - having punched all the numbers and answered all the questions, I was "disconnected" - twice. Problem resolved today.
The desk, which at the best of times is a mess, was looking better until a thousand and one things needed dealing with all at once. It is a mess, again.
But yesterday I went to a mindless movie in the afternoon (The Three Stooges - remember them) and then to a delightful card party at church that our Christian Mothers Organization sponsored. They had a banner crowd, and it was nice socializing with the ladies (and one gent) in attendance and eating some delicious jellos and desserts. That pulled yesterday out of the fire. And today has been tolerable. It is Friday, after all. And tomorrow I'm hitting the road ... making a journey ... going on pilgrimage. More on that later.
I find myself cringing a lot these days as we (the Church) make the headlines. On occasion the press is positive and the message uplifting, but on the whole, between scandals, politics, hostility and hatred of things religious and specifically things Catholic, and a growing desire to place the message of the gospel in the irrelevant column, I am tempted to bury my head and mind my own business. I know that the truth found in the message of Jesus is a moral compass for a world that is lost at sea, but to step out into the deep waters and in all humility point the way with confident assurance is daunting.
Today the Church honors John Mark, a companion of Paul and Barnabas, the author of the Gospel that bears his name, the great evangelist. The scriptures tell us to "go out to all the world and proclaim the good news to every creature". Go boldly, we are told, sometimes where no one has gone before. Not all will listen. It will generally be a difficult task. Often we will be written off or ignored. But it is the clear demand of the Lord to go forth. The eleven went forth and the Lord was with them.
Yesterday my adult server at morning Mass attended a Confirmation celebration across the border in the Pittsburgh Diocese. He was telling me about it this morning. Then as I was checking out various blogs, I came across one by Msgr. Charles Pope of the Archdiocese of Washington regarding misunderstandings regarding confirmation. I would like to share some of what he said, with the full text found at http://blog.adw.org.
Msgr Pope says:
It will also help to exclude certain common, but incorrect notions about Confirmation.
1. Confirmation is not a Sacrament of Maturity - Canon Law (891) states that Confirmation is generally to be administered at about the age of discretion, which age is understood to be seven (Canon 97.2). It may be administered earlier if there is "danger of death" or for another "grave cause". The same Canon allows the conference of bishops to determine another age for reception of the sacrament. While one may argue that a later date for the Sacrament is pastorally advisable, (i.e. to keep young people engaged in catechetical instruction) one simply cannot argue that it is a "Sacrament of maturity" when Church law generally presupposes its celebration at the age of seven. This is made clearer by the fact that most Eastern Churches, and the Orthodox confirm infants.
2. Confirmation is not "becoming an adult in the Church" This is just plain silly. I was taught this as a mere seventh grader, and found it laughable even then. Seventh graders are not adults. They are children and remain so even after Confirmation.
3. Confirmation is not a sacrament where one claims or affirms the faith for himself - Baptism confers faith. To claim that Confirmation "allows me to speak for myself" is to imply that this is how faith comes about. It is to imply that baptism somehow did not actually give real faith, or at least gave inadequate faith, and now I am getting it by "speaking for myself." No, Faith is a gift, it is not something I cause by speaking for myself, it is something I receive as an unmerited and free gift of God. It is true that the grace of faith mysteriously interacts with our freedom. But faith is received at baptism. Confirmation strengthens faith that is already there, but it does not cause it. Further it is a bit of a stretch to say that seventh or eighth graders really "speak for themselves."
4. Confirmation does not "complete Christian initiation" and "make me a full Catholic" - One of the problems with delaying Confirmation is that the three Sacraments of Initiation are celebrated out of proper order. The proper order of celebration is: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. Hence it is Holy Communion that completes initiation, not Confirmation. That we celebrate it out of order creates a lot of confusion and makes initiation a little murky. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults observes the proper order. Some diocese in this country have returned to this for children as well. [In our Greensburg Diocese we went to the proper order, but under the present administration have gone back to prior practices.] ... While this preserves the order of Initiation, and there are pastoral advantages in this regard, it must be clear that each Bishop is able to set the policy that makes most sense for his diocese.
I thank Msgr. Pope for his insights regarding these common misconceptions regarding Confirmation. Whenever celebrated, it strengthens us on the journey as we approach the Table of the Lord.
Today is Primary Election day in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I did my civic duty this early afternoon and voted. I think that I heard them say that I was the thirty-ninth citizen of my party to vote at that polling place today.
We live in a great republic that cherishes rights and privileges to be a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people". The most important of our rights and privileges is to cast our ballots - to vote. Yet our response is usually abysmal. For a variety of reasons we choose to be otherwise occupied on election day. Why?
On a very personal level I find politics to be not what it should be. The negativity, the nastiness, the "spin" placed upon candidates, parties, issues and public perception grows worse each year. The amount of time, effort, and most of all monies used to "win us over" are obscene. And for what? So that we can vote for a candidate or a party that promises the world but cannot deliver unless all involved work together ... which they are rarely willing to do. The idea of the "common good" outweighing all other considerations is considered unrealistic, absurd. Politics stands in the way of governing, and nastiness and self serving greed is the hallmark of those involved in politics. No wonder people do not vote!
And yet, I did my civic duty, praying that those who I voted for accept the challenge to build a stronger and better world - not a stronger and bigger war chest, or party, or interests, or allies or whatever - but a better world. And to do so not with eyes focused on self but rather on others. Am I convinced that this will happen, even if my candidates get in? Honestly, most likely, no. But in my voting I exercise a right given my by those who established this form of government and most especially a right defended by countless men and women over the years, often with their very lives. In addition, I consider it to be a part of my duty as a follower of Christ to try to make this work. Sometimes I feel like Don Quixote, dreaming the impossible dream. But who knows ... someday that dream may become a reality in our lifetime.
When asked by our music people if I wanted to attend a day sponsored by our Diocese with Steve Angrisano scheduled for today at one of our parishes, I said reluctantly said yes. I wasn't sure who this composer/performer was until they told me some of his music. As the day approached, I was having second thoughts - it was a busy weekend with First Communion and the other Masses and then they were calling for a snowfall of several inches today (luckily it missed us ... rain only). I was so tempted to find an excuse. But God is good!
I attended the day at Saint John the Baptist de la Salle parish in Delmont which was intended for youth ministers in particular. It was just what I needed. It was uplifting, informative, spiritually challenging and great fun. Steve is from Denver (I believe) and has served as a musician, a composer and a youth minister. He has been featured at not only the Pro-Life March Youth Rallies, but also NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference) and at seven World Youth Day Gatherings. He gave an inspirational talk, rooted in his personal testimony and experience but centered upon the Lord and his work. His talk was interspersed with music and charm. I think those present were, like me, deeply moved and uplifted. I would love to get him to the parish for a retreat.
Steve is published in Spirit and Song, a division of Oregon Catholic Press (OCP). To hear him, or find out more about him, his web site is www.steveangrisano.com.
Steve had led our Diocesan Youth Gathering this past weekend, thus his presence in our Diocese. We were blest ... I was blest! Boy, am I glad that I went!
