diocese to host online film screening of venerable ... · ‘beginning experience’ weekend for...

July 9, 2020 | Issue 9

By Jen ReedThe Catholic Witness

The Diocese of Harrisburg will host a free virtual screening of the short film “Across” later this month, and the event promises to offer a glimpse into the remarkable life of Venerable Augustine Tolton, the first African-American priest in the United States. The 30-minute movie will introduce viewers to pivotal decisions in Tolton’s childhood, as he attempts to escape slavery in 1863. A historical presentation about Father Tolton will follow the screening of the stirring film. Discussion will be led by writer/director Christopher Foley, Bishop Ronald Gainer, and Bishop Joseph Perry, postulator of the cause for the canonization of the priest, who was declared Venerable last year. The virtual event is sponsored by the Diocesan Office of Multicultural Ministries. It will take place via the Zoom platform on Friday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. To receive the Zoom link

to the presentation, register online at https://hbgdiocese.formstack.com/forms/across_the_father_tolton_movie. The short film “Across” is a stand-alone movie that tells the story of 10-year-old Tolton’s

attempted escape from slavery in Missouri in 1863. Young “Gus” is devastated when his father flees the plantation to fight for the Union in the Civil War. He tries to convince his mother to take the rest of the family north to freedom, outrunning overseers, slave-catchers and Confederate soldiers to reach free land beyond the Mississippi. Jaclyn Curran, Coordinator of the Office of Multicultural Ministries, said she learned about the film last September. The Black Catholic Ministry, which falls under the Office of Multicultural Ministries, usually offers one or two workshops a

year, she said. “We have adopted the mission to promote canonization causes of six African Americans

Diocese to Host Online Film Screening of Venerable Augustine Tolton’s Escape from Slavery

More TOLTON FILM, page 3

July 9, 2020 • The Catholic WITNESS- 2

The mission of The Catholic Witness is to be of personal and practical help as we try to be loyal and true witnesses for Christ in our daily living, spiritual and temporal, in private and in public.

Publisher:The Most Rev. Ronald W. Gainer,DD, JCL, Bishop of Harrisburg

Executive Director for Public Relations:Rachel Bryson, [email protected]

Managing Editor: Jennifer [email protected]

Photojournalist: Chris [email protected]

4800 Union Deposit RoadHarrisburg, PA 17111-3710

Phone: 717-657-4804

Email: [email protected]

Digital subscriptions provided complimentary to all parishioners registered to a parish in the Diocese of Harrisburg. The Catholic Witness (ISSN 0008-8447, USPS 557 120) is published digitally weekly except Christmas/New Year by the Harrisburg Catholic Publishing Association, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111.

Clergy Change Announced for

Coal Township and Trevorton Parishes

Bishop Ronald Gainer, at the request of Rev. James McCurry, OFM Conv., minister provincial for the Franciscan Friars Conventual, announces the following changes to clergy assignments:

• Reverend Michael Lasky, OFM Conv., as pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Coal Township, and St. Patrick Parish, Trevorton.

• Reverend Steven Frenier, OFM Conv., current pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Coal Township and St. Patrick Parish, Trevorton, to senior friar in residence in the southern United States.

These changes take effect July 15, 2020. Every year, clergy assignments are made in an effort to meet the needs of the parishes and to fulfill the mission of the Church. Priests are selected for assignments based on a variety of factors, including local needs, their skills and experience, availability, and health, and in this case, the needs of the religious order of which the priest belongs. Priests within the Diocese of Harrisburg can be reassigned for a number of reasons, including a request from the clergy member, an opening due to a retirement or death, or a clergy member has the skills and talents that are considered a good match for a specific ministry need.

‘Beginning Experience’ Weekend for Those

Suffering Loss of Spouse The Beginning Experience Team for the Harrisburg Diocese has reserved Camp Hebron in Halifax, Pa., for a Beginning Experience Weekend, Nov 6-8, 2020. The ecumenical Beginning Experience weekends are an approved program designed for those suffering the loss of a spouse through death, divorce or separation. Hundreds of persons have been helped to move towards successful, productive, happy lives by attending one of these weekends. The weekend is led by persons who have lost a spouse through death or divorce and are trained in facilitating a weekend. Each Beginning Experience Team is certified by the International Beginning Experience Organization. The following is a testimonial of a person who attended the Beginning Experience Weekend: “I can tell you that my encounter with the Beginning Experience weekend has brought me greater peace and given me an extended family of lifelong friends who I quickly grew to love and lean on. If you or someone you know is suffering the isolation and pain that can accompany the loss of a spouse or marriage, I encourage you to seriously consider attending the Beginning Experience weekend.” Visit http://www.hbgdiocese.org/ and go to marriage and family, or www.beginningexperience.org. Or contact the Harrisburg Beginning Experience Team at 717-379-0800 or [email protected].


that are being considered for canonization. This is particularly important since no African-American has been canonized,” she said. The office had initially scheduled an in-person screening of “Across” to be held at the Diocesan Center in May, but the event was called off due to Covid-19. The rescheduled event via Zoom “turned out to be a blessing,” Curran said. “By offering a virtual workshop, this workshop is accessible to many more faithful and we are able to have Bishop Joseph Perry as our guest.” The re-scheduling of the movie screening and its corresponding discussion also proves timely, given the rise of social action against racism in recent weeks. “God’s time is perfect, and while the intention was to present this sooner, the fact that it worked out this way cannot be overlooked,” Curran said. “I pray that many realize the challenges that have been hurting our Church for many years and that it inspires people to be open and intentional when doing the Lord’s work. One Bible quote that resonates with me is ‘Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.’ I pray we go beyond what is in our hearts and the good intentions, and we can translate this into action.” “Father Tolton has had a constant presence in the work that I do, and I personally have prayed novenas to him asking for his intercession. All of us can be inspired by Father Tolton and learn so much from him,” Curran remarked. “He stayed true to his vocation, to God’s call and did not take ‘No’ for an answer. When doors were closed, he did not give up, and traveled to Rome to become a priest. His faithfulness and resilience are exactly what we need right now, and I pray that many are inspired by Father Tolton as I am.” Father Augustine Tolton (1854-1897) was the

first African-American Catholic priest in the United States. A former slave who was baptized and raised Catholic, Tolton studied formally in Rome. He was ordained in Rome on Easter Sunday at the Cathedral Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in 1886. Father Tolton led the development and construction of St. Monica’s Catholic Church

in Chicago as a black “National Parish Church,” completed in 1893. His success in ministering to black Catholics quickly earned him national attention within the Catholic hierarchy. “Good Father Gus,” as he was affectionately known, was recognized for his eloquent sermons, his beautiful singing voice and his talent on the accordion.

July 8, 1897, he collapsed as a result of a heat wave in Chicago and died the following day at Mercy Hospital. He was 43. He was buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Quincy, at his wishes. On February 24, 2011, the Church officially began the formal introduction of the cause for Father Tolton’s sainthood. On June 12, 2019, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of a “Decree of Heroic Virtue,” advancing the cause of Servant of God Augustine Tolton and granting him the title “Venerable.” The next stage in the cause would be beatification, prior to canonization. Curran said she hopes the July 31 event will inspire participants “that in the face of adversity, we keep our eyes on Christ. I hope and pray that Father Tolton may be a source of inspiration to many. I also pray that this inspires attendees in their daily lives: how we think and how we act with those around us.” Register for the July 31 event at https://hbgdiocese.formstack.com/forms/across_the_father_tolton_movie. See the trailer and learn more about the film’s production, cast and Father Tolton’s life at www.acrossmovie.com.

TOLTON FILMcontinued from 1

COURTESY OF ACROSS MOVIE, LLCRoman Evans makes a convincing screen debut as Charley in this screen capture from “Across.”


Catholic News Agency In two rulings on July 8, the Supreme Court affirmed religious liberty, ruling in cases for the Little Sisters of the Poor, and on the right of religious schools to hire and fire teachers. The Little Sisters of the Poor had a victory at the Supreme Court nine years into the religious order’s bouts of litigation over the Obama-era “contraception mandate” which obliged employers to provide for contraceptive coverage for employees through their health care plans. “For over 150 years, the Little Sisters have engaged in faithful service and sacrifice, motivated by a religious calling to surrender all for the sake of their brother,” wrote Justice Clarence Thomas for the majority. “But for the past seven years, they—like many other religious objectors who have participated in the litigation and rulemakings leading up to today’s decision— have had to fight for the ability to continue in their noble work without violating their sincerely held religious beliefs.” In a 7-2 decision, the Court’s majority sided with the sisters in the latest round of lawsuits against them over the mandate, this time brought by the states of Pennsylvania and California, who argued that the exemption crafted by the Trump administration for organizations with religious or moral objections to the mandate shifted the cost of providing contraceptive coverage to the states and was procedurally flawed. “We hold today that the Departments had the statutory authority to craft that exemption, as well as the contemporaneously issued moral exemption,” the majority found. “We further hold that the rules promulgating these exemptions are free from procedural defects.” The near decade-long court battle of the Little

Sisters of the Poor dates back to 2011, when the Obama administration required employers to provide cost-free coverage for contraceptives, sterilizations, and “emergency birth control” in employee health plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Although the Obama administration granted an “accommodation” to the Little Sisters and other objecting religious non-profits, the sisters sued

the government in 2013 saying the process still required them to essentially give a “permission slip” for contraceptive coverage to be delivered through their health plans. In 2016, a divided Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower courts and instructed both the administration and the non-profits to reach a compromise where cost-free contraceptive coverage could still be

offered to employees while respecting the moral objections of religious groups. In 2017, the Trump administration granted a religious and moral exemption to the mandate for the sisters and other objecting groups, but then the states of Pennsylvania and California filed lawsuits saying that the burden of providing coverage was being shifted onto the states and claiming that the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act in setting up the exemption. The Supreme Court took up their case against the states in January, hearing arguments by phone in April following the coronavirus pandemic.

Court: Teachers are ‘Ministers’ The Supreme Court delivered a long-awaited religious liberty decision on the right

ADDIE MENA/CNA

Little Sisters Have Big Win in Supreme Court Decision; Court Also Rules Teachers are ‘Ministers’

More SUPREME COURT, page 5

Little Sisters of the Poor are seen outside the Supreme Court in March of 2016.


of religious schools to hire and fire teachers. The court found in favor of two Catholic schools in California, ruling that a “ministerial exception” to government interference applies to teachers in religious schools. The July 8 ruling came in the consolidated cases of Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James Catholic School v. Biel. The justices ruled in a 7-2 decision that teachers at Catholic grade schools qualified for the “ministers exception” established by the court in the 2012 Hosana Tabor case. “The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools, and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission,” wrote Justice Samuel Alito for the majority. “Judicial review of the way in which religious schools discharge those responsibilities would undermine the independence of religious institutions in a way that the First Amendment does not tolerate.” The two California Catholic schools did not renew the contracts of the teachers in 2014 and 2015. In separate cases combined by the Supreme Court, the teachers alleged that their dismissals were based on disability and age, not poor performance. The schools claimed they

were exempt from employment discrimination laws under the ministerial exception, the legal doctrine under which government cannot interfere in the employment decisions of churches and religious institutions regarding the hiring and firing of ministers. In both cases, the teachers’ suits were dismissed by federal courts, and then reinstated by the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeal. The decision comes just weeks after the court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, that employers cannot fire employees because of their sexual orientation or “gender identity.” Justice Neil Gorsuch, who authored the majority opinion in that case, acknowledged that religious freedom cases related to the decision would probably come before the Court in the future. The decision about who qualifies as a minister could directly impact future cases in which teachers might be dismissed for failing to adhere to Church teachings on same-sex marriage or transgender issues, both of which have been subjects of controversy in recent months. “Requiring the use of the title [minister] would constitute impermissible discrimination,” the court ruled. Referencing the previous decision in Hosana Tabor, Altio wrote that there must be “a recognition that educating young people in their faith, inculcating its teachings, and training them to live their faith are responsibilities that lie at the very core of the mission

of a private religious school.” The court concluded that “when a school with a religious mission entrusts a teacher with the responsibility of educating and forming students in the faith, judicial intervention into disputes between the school and the teacher threatens the school’s independence in a way that the First Amendment does not allow.” Joining Alito in the majority decision were Justices Thomas, Breyer, Kagan, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts. Justices Sotomayer and Ginsburg dissented. In a statement on the two rulings, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference applauded the decisions that affirm religious liberties: “The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference applauds the Supreme Court’s decisions in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James Catholic School v. Biel. In both cases, the Court reaffirmed the religious liberties guaranteed in the United States’ Constitution.” “These are incredibly important rulings for so many groups across the country,” said Eric Failing, the Executive Director of the PCC. “They take a big stand for religious liberty as a First Amendment freedom, which is continually being threatened. We are happy the Court has clearly recognized the importance of religious liberty to our nation.”

SUPREME COURTcontinued from 4


By Chris HeiseyThe Catholic Witness

Good books teach us, help us, change us and stay with us. God’s Mercy Awaits You: Find Healing after Abortion – written by Good Shepherd Sister Patricia Marie Barnette – is a book that offers all the above and gives readers a profound sense of hope. Published by Pauline Books and Media (www.pauline.org), a publishing arm of the Daughters of St. Paul, the book was released just as the worldwide pandemic was seizing the country. Sister Patricia melds more than 30 years of counseling experience into this 170-page book that teaches exactly what the title says: Mercy. The handsomely published book has many praising endorsements of its effectiveness of sharing the message of hope. “Abortion can leave those who experience it with the belief that they have committed an unforgivable sin, with no hope of peace and salvation. But God is Mercy himself and longs to heal us if we seek him out in sorrow…. Although we are not our abortions, their impact is deep…. God is waiting for you! Seek him out in the pages of this book and you will find he has always been there,” Ms. Bonapartis, Director of Lumina/Hope and Healing, writes. Sister Patricia uses anecdotal stories that are sprinkled throughout to give insight to the fact that every woman’s and their loved ones’ abortion trauma is different. One of the great strengths of this book is the myriad of stories that Sister shares while protecting the identity of the individual. Another helpful aspect of the book is the ample use of Scripture, many times not often cited, yet so very poignant. “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you…. Plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. (Jeremiah 29:11-14) When you

call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me… and I will change your lot.” She also does not just offer the Scripture texts; however, lists Scripture reading citations designed to encourage a reader’s own seeking into God’s Word to discover the restorative powers of many passages in the Bible. Moreover, Sister Patricia offers reflection questions at the end of chapters, along with tips to help offer healing and ways back to the Catholic faith, which many struggle with after abortion. In an interview at the Diocesan Center in Harrisburg, Sister Patricia shared some of her journey of writing the book, which began six years ago when she was in a Catholic bookshop and saw a number of books written on a

God’s Mery Awaits You: Find Healing After Abortion,

by Sister Patricia Marie Barnette, RGS

Book ReviewFind Healing That Jesus Promises

More HEALING,page 7

CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS


variety of topics. “I said to myself, I can do that, I can write a book,” Sister Patricia said. “I wanted to write a book about God’s mercy and abortion, and I wanted it to be from the Catholic perspective because I really had not seen one.” “To help the person who is seeking healing, I wanted them to be able to connect. I just did not want to offer facts. That is why I included the stories, because they are all real stories, and I wanted to make it about life…. To give them hope that ‘I can be healed too,”’ Sister Patricia said. “Until a person can accept that forgiveness from God, they are really stuck,” she said. “The grace of forgiveness is always there, but there is an element of timing also… many women have gone to Confession but still do not feel forgiven. The sacrament is efficacious but they do not experience it. So timing has a lot to do with it when they get to the point to really receive God’s forgiveness…. It is important to go to…somebody who is trained in post-abortion healing ministry and are neither condemning nor act that it is no big deal. You have to be open, receptive and non-judgmental to the woman, and that is not always the case, unfortunately, and it can be a

barrier.” Sister Patricia was born into a Navy family at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and said she considers her hometown to be West Palm Beach, Florida. She is currently living in Danville here in the Diocese of Harrisburg. She wrote the book over a number of years, due to mission work and assignments that required her professional time away from writing. During a sabbatical recently she was able to finish the book with the help of an editing friend who gave advice and edits to help her as a first-time author. She finished the entire manuscript prior to seeking a publisher – that truly takes a leap of faith for any writer. “The message for any woman or man or family is to not be afraid, to come forward for help,” she said. “There are people to help, people who care, and God wants them to be healed and live that life of peace and joy that Jesus promises.”

HEALINGcontinued from 6


The Called

By Angela M. OrsiniThe Catholic Witness

Casimira Kaupas (“Kaze”) was born on January 6, 1880, in Gudeliai, Lithuania, into a family of 11. They were pious and practiced their religion as best they could, as Russia ruled in the majority and Russian Orthodox was the state religion. Catholics could not openly practice their faith. In 1892, her brother, Anthony, emigrated to the United States, was ordained a priest in 1896 and assigned to St. Joseph’s Lithuanian Church in Scranton, Pa. He asked Kaze to come to America to be his housekeeper. She arrived, age 17, and for the first time witnessed women religious and became aware of the plight of the immigrants. After four years, she became homesick and returned to Lithuania, but always discerned her vocation. An American Lithuanian clergy wanted to establish a Lithuanian congregation for women to address the faith and educational needs for the children. Eventually, Kaze trained with the Sisters of Mercy in Switzerland

and returned to Scranton in 1905. Bishop John Shanahan of the Diocese of Harrisburg agreed to sponsor the new congregation in 1905. He made arrangements with Mother M. Cyril of the Servants of the Sacred Heart (IHM) for Casimira

and her two companions to begin religious life. In 1907, Pope Pius X approved the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Casmir, and on August 30 Mother Maria Kaupas and her two companions were professed. With the opening of the new Holy Cross School in Mount Carmel in 1908, Mother Maria and two Sisters began their first teaching assignment with 125 students. In 1911, Archbishop Quigley of Chicago opened St. Casmir Academy with a large Lithuanian population. They began to staff schools in other Lithuanian parishes across the United States. In 1913, Mother Maria Kaupas became the first Superior General, a post she held until her death 27 years later. Free from Russia after World War I, the Lithuanian bishops asked Mother Maria to establish a foundation of Sisters, coming to fruition in Pazaislis, Lithuania. The Lithuanian government bestowed the highest decoration, The Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas, upon Mother in 1933 for her work with the Lithuanians in

America. That same year, Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer which metastasized to the bone. She survived seven years. She told her nurses, “I am happy that I have an illness which gives me time to prepare for death by suffering to atone for sins.” Pain was etched on her face; she was ashen but serene. As her eyes brightened with a radiant smile, Mother Maria closed her beautiful blue eyes and breathed her last breath on April 17, 1940, at age 60. In the Diocese of Harrisburg, Holy Cross in Mount Carmel in the Anthracite Coal Region, 73 miles from the capital city of Harrisburg, was considered the Lithuanian Church throughout its history. The Lithuanian people have a deep devotion to the “Weeping Christ” and the “Holy Cross.” Holy Cross Church was dedicated on September 14, 1892, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Mother Maria and her two companions began teaching there in 1908 and the Sisters kept their presence after it had been merged until 1964. The church and school have since been suppressed. In April 2015, The Mother Maria Kaupas Center was dedicated in Mount Carmel. The center houses spiritual and charitable initiatives and programs that give parishioners, Confirmation candidates and college students an opportunity to become immersed in community service projects.

Saint SpotlightMother Maria

Kaupas

Venerable Servant of God

Served in the Diocese of Harrisburg


The CalledA series of profiles on clergy and religious

elated. She is the one, though she will fight you tooth and nail on this, who pushed me into being an altar server.

How young were you when you began serving?

I was around nine years old, about as young as you could be. I served all throughout my childhood and up into my teenage years. One of the things when I talk about my vocation to younger kids is that I point to my dedication altar serving, though I was kind of forced into it a little. But once I started doing it, I wanted to do it right and make sure things were done correctly. It was important to me. I was very attentive to all the things that were needed, and when Father O’Blaney took over we wore cassocks just like I am wearing today. If I was wearing a white shirt underneath, I would look in a mirror and pull up the white shirt and see how it looked. That is sort of a tell-tale sign of my childhood that there may have been a hint of a vocation in my soul. But in high

Please tell us about where you grew up and your

childhood. I grew up in Lititz, Pa., where my home parish was St. James; it’s a parish run by the Redemptorists, a religious order. There was a priest there when I was young named Father Girard who taught me how to altar serve, and that is where I got my first foray at the altar. He was replaced by Father James O’Blaney a couple years after that, and that is who I first told of my potential vocation to a Diocesan vocation, which made for a little of a fun conversation. He said to me, “Well, why not the Redemptorists?” It was a fun back and forth conversation. I have one sister, and she and I are very close. She helps me be a better person. She is younger, three years than me, and she helps me. Mom and Dad were very supportive of me when I told them I wanted to be a priest. I think my mom was secretly very excited and

school, you kind of put that sort of stuff behind, at least I did.

You went to Warwick High School.

Yes, I did. I was pretty lukewarm growing up about a vocation, but I had a good group of friends and I am still friends with them today. When you go to seminary you have your seminary buddies and your high school friends. I stayed in contact with my high school friends and we have been together forever, it seems. They are really a solid group of guys. I remember one of my friends coming up to me in high school and asking me if I was Christian, and I said, yes. “Well you really don’t act like it,” he said. So I thought, “Oh no, I am a horrible person.” But it was great because it was like a kind of kick in the butt that I needed to shape up. It kind of made me want to be good, and the fact that they were there as a buffer for me was really great for me. They still are, and that is great. In high school, probably around my junior year, my youth group went to Atlanta for a Steubenville conference, which was a pretty big conference. It was pretty much a big spiritual awakening for me. People who were coming up to us to talk, they were on fire for the faith, which was something that I had seen very rarely growing up – which is not anybody’s fault. But to see that in person, to see young people in Adoration that way gave me a fire I never felt

Father Samuel Miller

Hometown: Lititz, Pa.

Education: Warwick High School; St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.

Current Assignment: Parochial Vicar at Good Shepherd Parish in Camp Hill

More THE CALLED, page 10



before. It was a turning point for me. I thought, “If I am going to be Catholic, I need to take this seriously.” So I had a sort of big conversion and I began reading spiritual books, apologetic works. My senior year was all about that. I sort of owned my Catholic identity, to the point where one girl said to me, “You are really into this Catholic stuff, aren’t you?” to which I said, “Yes I am.”

If you would not have gone to that conference, you would

not have had the turning point?

That was – and it is probably the one big thing that I point to – kind of at least conversion-wise, very important. St. Pope John Paul II always talked about needing that conversion of heart constantly. It completely gave me a 180 when it came to my faith.

More than reading and studying works, did your

views toward the Mass and sacraments change?

Good question. My view with spending time with our Lord, I would sneak into St. James when I had free time and adore the Blessed Sacrament. I was in show choir in high school; I played football for a while too, though I was a bench warmer – not sure I had the aggression they wanted then. I eventually had to commit to one. The show stuff we would do took rehearsal time, so I would sneak back into a quiet place and pray the

Rosary in a corner by myself. There was a priest that would meet with me regularly that gave me spiritual direction, so my senior year is when I also took a “come and see” vocation retreat with our vocations director (Father LaVoie) and a couple of other guys from the Diocese discerning the priesthood. We went to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia to see it for the first time. We got to see seminary life, and that was the first time I really got to see what seminary was about. I always ask kids when I do vocations talks about what they think seminary life is like. Is it like bars on the windows, candlelight, no Internet or TV or free time? Really, they start nodding their heads and it was exactly how I thought seminary would be like. Really, it is college with a spiritual undertone, but you are not alone either, and you are with guys who are in the same boat as you: learning about our Lord, about the Church, the basics of Catholicism all with the goal of discerning as to whether they want to become priests. I was like, “I think I can do this” after the visit, and “Not only can I do this, but I am called to do this.” I called my mom, and she said yes. My dad was a little hesitant at first, but then he committed to it wholeheartedly and he was really happy for me. I graduated Warwick and went right into St. Charles Seminary out of high school, which was sort of a huge leap for me. Seminary life took a little bit to get used to and maybe it

was me butting heads with the system some there, but just getting used to the regimen of Morning Prayer, Mass, Evening Prayer, Night Prayer and the schedule. And college seminary is about philosophy with some theology thrown in, but the main study is philosophy. We would have philosophical speakers come and speak to us for several hours, and it was stuff I had little previous idea about.

Coming right from high school, that was a very big

step for you and nothing you experienced before.

Yes, that is exactly true. And coming from public high school as well, it just was a completely new world to me, like Morning Prayer, which you might have had some in a Catholic high school. Catholic high school would have given you a little bit of Latin too, which I had no clue about. But once things started to click for me in seminary life….

I assume you made some friends, and that was a help?

Exactly. It was what made things click for me, and those friends are priest friends today that I still stay in contact with. Entering right after high school, I got to know guys who were eight years in and guys who were like me, so I had the whole range. There is a statistic told to us that nearly a third of our presbyterate has been ordained in the past ten years and a good number ordained in the past five. I know many of them,

THE CALLEDcontinued from 9

July 9, 2020 • The Catholic WITNESS- 11THE CALLED

continued from 10


and fraternity was huge with Father LaVoie and we became like a unit. We hashed out our differences and we still hold that bond today. Many of these priests are pastors now, so I know them. They used to give me rides home and they would listen to Johnny Cash, so I can tell them not to give me any lip. That sort of fun thing builds a fraternity and camaraderie that will last. It was a ton of fun in seminary. It’s school so there is study and making sure that you put into it what the Diocese and the good people of the Diocese are giving and putting into your education. It’s like, “Ok, this is for them. When I am ordained a priest, I want to preach, teach them and lead them to Christ as best that I can.”

Is it humbling to know that you are being supported by

so many faithful? It is, and the people of this Diocese are so good and are very generous to their seminarians. They just are. It is a grassroots effort because a lot of the people know you, and know you since you were a kid, like many do from when I was at St. James. They would always ask, “How is seminary going?” You just always felt their support.

Were you always discerning, or were you lock-step on

board the entire way? I would not say I was lock-step the whole way. I was not

fully prepared about being ordained a priest under my first year of theology study. College seminary was that testing ground, and I used those first couple of years to head butt the system a little, and get the obligations down. I never had anything that would cause me to want to leave. I mean, you meet guys who you can tell that they make a good discernment process and head out. They say, “This is not for me” and leave, and it is understood. In first Theology, I was with a priest who told me that you eventually make the call, barring an act of God, and from then on I was totally gunning to become a priest. I was in a parish over the summer and it was nerve-racking in some ways but also exciting. But I got to know the people and I really loved what I was doing and where I was at.

In what parish we you assigned that summer?

I was at St. Patrick’s in Carlisle with Father Forrey and Father Bender. I remember one time I was at Quo Vadis Days, our discernment camp, and I was so tired and almost falling asleep in chapel. Father Bender yelled over at me across the room, “Sam Miller, wake up!” He probably does not remember that, but I do! I deserved it. I shot right up and was awake.

You were not at St. Charles you whole seminary career.

No, I was not. Father LaVoie asked me where I would like to go for Theology, so I said I think I would like going to the Mount, and see what a different

seminary is all about. He thought that was a good idea for me. I like both St. Charles and the Mount, but the Mount for my Theology years was a beautiful place to grow and pray. St. Charles was a beautiful place to grow and pray, and to get ready for the priesthood. I’m not saying St. Charles is not, but the Mount gave me places to run and jog around the mountain and also go to the Grotto; gorgeous places, peaceful places. I actually miss going down, with the pandemic these days. I graduated from the Mount, and was ordained June 1, 2019 – it’s been a year and 25 days since then – who’s counting!

Tell us about your first year as a priest at Good Shepherd. It does not even feel like a year, and it has been a unique year for sure. The first months, I was learning the ropes, and I still am. I made a joke in a homily a couple of weeks ago, referring to last summer when I was green. “Who am I kidding?” I said, “I am still green.” It has been sort of a whirlwind with all the seasons. When Lent started, I took a priest retreat to France and came back and everything was closed. I went over at the end of February, early March and there were rumblings about closing things. I went along with two other classmates, priests from the Mount.

Where did you go in France? We went to Ars, France. I


got to say Mass at St. John Vianney’s altar, where he is interred. He is just lying there in wax peacefully and his body is incorrupt. It was hugely humbling. When I was asked to say Mass, I jumped at the opportunity. I was thinking I was not worthy, as more than 20 priest were there, but they wanted me to do it. We got the chance to explore Ars for a day and then went to Leone, and we just celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart. I got to see St. Margaret Mary and see where she is buried. It was amazing. It was a great trip. It was easy getting back into the U.S., but it was a little too easy. The doors started shutting right after. It was a challenge, but it provided a ton of opportunities as well for us to grow, because there has been a push about using digital technologies to communicate for quite some time to reach our homebound parishioners or people unable to get to Mass. I originally was going to go to college to study film, at DeSales University, if I did not go to seminary or things did not work out with that. I was accepted, but the tug towards the priesthood told me that was the way to go. I had made some short, fun films with my friends, which were really fun to do and I got acquainted with digital technology and learned what it can do.

When the parish went to live streaming, were you a part of

that process? It was already set-up while I was in France, and when I came home we thought it best that I self-quarantine for 14 days, which was fine with me. We have continued to improve on things greatly since this all started.

The faithful appreciate what has been done to make things

available on the computer. Definitely. I noticed that I had a huge audience for when I prayed the Rosary and broadcasted it live. We used artwork from around the parish as backdrops. We also have had a good response to our Tuesday night live shows – that is 7 p.m. every Tuesday. We call it the Good Shepherd Show. We may cut out the live show part, but we (Father Sullivan and Brian Pritchard) broadcast it every Tuesday night. It is kind of like a comedy show, but we share some spirituality and some parishioner spotlights also. We have done seven episodes up to now, though we may take some time off this summer. I usually spend Tuesdays in the studio, editing booth, scrubbing through footage and sound tracks, and YouTube is good to sound file things. It has been a fun challenge. The whole year has been full of its challenges but it has also been full of its graces and consolations. You know what they say, if you are in a state of consolation immediately prepare for desolation. But this is a vocation, it is not a job, it is what you were born to do. I never want to toot my own horn.

I am only as good as the Lord has given me the grace to be. I cannot take any credit for what has been done.

Your parish has been through times of consolation for sure? Yes, and we always want to be there for them. We are attentive to our parishioners. We want people in Camp Hill to know that there is always a priest here for them and our doors are open. Father Sullivan and I started on the same day last summer (Father Sullivan was assigned pastor in June 2019) and Father Sullivan’s door was and is always open. “The door is open, come talk to me” was the inviting message. There are so many good things down the road for us and we are both super excited about how things are going to develop here at Good Shepherd. There is always hope.

What are some of the fun things or hobbies you do to recharge your batteries? My free time consists of reading. My sister got me a guitar for my birthday, though I am still stuck on the three chords I learned a while ago. My mother tried to get me to learn an instrument, the piano, and I was a lazy kid so I never practiced. I had a friend at the Mount who played and I thought that it would finally be nice to be able to do it. With the guitar, it is nice to hit the right chord correctly and hear it. I was going to take some lessons but then Covid-19 hit. It looks like


More THE CALLED,page 13


I will be self-taught for a while longer.

What do you like to read? Currently I am reading Dune, which is a classic science-fiction novel. And you will hear this from a lot of priests, but Lord of the Rings is one of my favorites also. I lean towards the suspense-type thrillers; I am sort of that type of guy. A good ghost story or creepy, dark theme. I liked to be scared growing up, which is fun. I like the lives of the saints as well – those are the real superheroes.

Who are your favorite saints? One of my Canon Law professors at the Mount said that we tend to only pick one saint as our patron. He said, “Why not pick more than one?” so I decided to do that. St. Thérèse of Lisieux has been watching out for me since I was a kid. Just before I became a transitional deacon, I read Story of a Soul and I realized that she has been the one looking out for me since I was seven. They say if you pray a novena to her, you will get roses. I have gotten roses for sure. She has adopted me more or less. When I was young, I saw a picture of her as a young child and I have always felt a connection. You usually only see pictures of her as a young woman. St. Maria Goretti is one of my favorites because it is so redemptive. It is just not her story but the story of her murderer, Alessandro, and just

the mercy and reconciliation he had and the conversion he had. The whole story of how he became humble and contrite, I just love the whole beautiful story. Also, since I went to a Redemptorist parish, I learned about St. Alphonsus Liguori. My focus in theology was moral theology, and he was a doctor of moral theology. I did not know that when I was taking the courses, so I feel that he has been looking out for me also. There is St. Philip Neri, who is the second Apostle to Rome. There was a deacon – now priest – at the Mount who told me about St. Philip’s heart being twice the size of a regular heart, and that when he gave hugs you could feel the heat of his heart. That is the priest I would like to be like. He liked to play tricks and he was a wise guy – so I can relate to that. There is St. Pius X. People think he is so rigid and dogmatic, but his mother called him Bevie, and he was very gentle and humble and poor in spirit at times. “Born poor, die poor,” he said, even though he was sitting in the Chair of Peter. He was the first pope canonized in 500 years, so it is a pretty big thing. St. Thomas Aquinas is a favorite of mine, a good pillar of strength. I need an army of saints looking out for me.

How do you prepare for a homily, Father?

I prepare a week in advance. I check the readings for the next week and begin thinking. I mull it over for a while. At the Mount, we had a biblical software that

allowed us to look at the Greek and the commentaries for that weeks’ readings. I try to cross check it and there is so much to do, but it can be one little word in the Gospel that can make all the difference. I try not to be too complex, but try then to relate it to life so when they walk out the doors they can use what I have been preaching. How do we continue to grow in the Lord? St. Pius X, he would say “Confession, Communion, Confession, Communion,” and I am sure the parishioners are probably tired of hearing me say it. Pope St. John Paul II was all about the constant conversion of the heart, and I think it is important to constantly renew your soul every chance you get.

Do you have a favorite aspect of you ministry?

My favorite part of ministry is hearing Confessions, and of course saying Mass, but Confession brings a devotion to St. John Vianney that really hits home. He was so good in that box that you would come out of Confession feeling a weight lifted off your shoulders. You just always felt welcome in his confessional and he would always say, “Come back.” What a gift. I would say another part of my ministry I have fallen in love with is being an ambassador for our Lord to those who maybe have not seen him for a while. Maybe it is somebody who is sick and the family is there and maybe the person is about to die. You have a chance to be


More THE CALLED,page 14


By Sister Geralyn Schmidt, SCCSpecial to The Witness

As I sit here looking at the blinking cursor, continuing my series on racism, my thoughts seem like they are just whirling around and around. As I silently pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and words, I am reminded of the morning antiphon that the Church in the Liturgy of the Hours prayed on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, June 19: “Come, let us worship Jesus, whose heart was wounded for love of us.” Jesus’s heart was wounded for love of us. He was pierced so that we could see as well as understand what true love actually was. This is the antithesis of what racism, prejudice and discrimination is all about. This evil (and I don’t use that word lightly) can make a victim feel less human by stripping their dignity from him or her. This stripping creates a wound in their self-image. The constant reminders of being subhuman can cause a helplessness, an attitude of “Why bother!

I am no good!” Living under that perspective can create a hopelessness that further undermines human dignity, creating a vicious cycle. The lasting feelings of vulnerability and fear can create a culture of slavery in which there is no escape. This type of slavery can subjugate not only individuals but also entire communities, creating a shadow deep within

the psyche of the community. You might say, “Oh come on, Sister! You are a white woman. How do you know what it feels like to be a person of color?” I would be the first one to say, “I don’t! But, I do know what it feels like to be devalued because I am a woman, because I am a Religious, because

I have a learning disability. I also can understand the feeling of being of no worth, of being bullied because I was different than others.” It wounds the soul beyond what words can describe. As I type these words, tears well up in my eyes because I still can identify with the pain.

Wounds. Is it strange that our society wants us to hide and ignore the wounds caused by the sin of racism? Yet, when we look at Jesus, he willingly showed his disciples his wounds that were inflicted upon him because of our sin. It was not out of his inability to heal his wounds, but to wear them as a trophy of his victory.” I am NOT saying to accept the wounds of racism and call it a day. NO WAY! What I am saying is that out of our wounds, we must be ready to give to others. Because we have experienced this kind of pain, we can stand up and scream, “Enough! Not on my watch!” It demands constant personal reflection because of the hiddenness of this sin. Own your pain and strive to not deepen the pain of others. It demands a vulnerability, a love that is reflected in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He calls out to us today, “Will you love others as I have loved you?”

“Thoughts from a Catholic Evangelist”

Giving from Our Wounds

a healing hand. You are right there in the midst of sorrow or suffering and of course you are there so the Lord can work through you. Being that ray of hope is a chance at redemption and reconciliation. Also the shut-ins and nursing home patients, which I have not been able to visit much since the

pandemic, bringing hope to them is something I enjoy doing. It is a beautiful part to be a ray of hope and maybe the only person they really see that day. I also love going to the schools; just being on the kickball field is fun. Being with the parish family is special, I get to tease them and have fun with them and it is great. Since we have opened the doors back up and seeing the people again, you just say to yourself, “Thank God.”

THE CALLED, continued from 13

Original artwork by Sister Geralyn.


Deceased ClergyPray for the following clergy who died in July during the past 25 years:

OBITUARIESThe names of the following deceased persons have been submitted by their parishes. Remember in your prayers the happy repose of these recently departed souls and the consolation of their loved ones.

ChambersburgCorpus Christi:Kenneth Griesbaum Maragaret GrimesAnne BubserMarie BrookensStella FormanekLouis Gregorio

HarrisburgSt. Catherine Labouré:Janet DeLutisRichard Olszewski

HersheySt. Joan of Arc:Alfreda SiemianowskiJoan HigginsEvelyn Mendez

KulpmontHoly Angels:Helen SpishockHenry Koldash

LancasterSacred Heart of Jesus:Robert AicheleHelen DeatrickSavina StarkowskiMary KastAnn SegroAnne StengelAlfons RaschkeRon FisherWin Zerphey

MiddletownSeven Sorrows BVM:Alexis Matinchek CarnesMarion GelataGary Kohler

Mount CarmelDivine Redeemer:Dora DiFrancesco

YorkImmaculate Conception BVM:John BorsaRussell Jefferson, Jr. Margaret AllenRosemarie Hemler

St. Joseph:Annette Fuligni

St. Rose of Lima:Maryanne KlatkaJohn Szala Janet Wallick

Father Joseph Ceponis, 1997

Msgr. Joseph Kealy, 1997

Father Charles Procopio, 1997

Deacon Joseph Sahd, 1998

Msgr. Cletus Wagman, 2001

Father Joseph Coyne, 2001

Deacon Gerard Kole, 2002

Father Ramon Rivera-Lopez, 2007

Father Daniel Mahoney, 2007

Father Frederick A. Farace, 2018

Deacon Robert E. Weaver, 2018.

Annual Corpus Christi Men’s Retreat Will be

Offered Online The 42nd Corpus Christi Men’s Retreat, offered yearly to men of the Diocese, will take place in an online format on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Father Luis Rodriguez, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Chambersburg, will lead the virtual retreat, which will be offered free of charge. The annual retreat is sponsored by Corpus Christi Parish. Registration is requested for planning purposes, and is available on the retreat website at https://ccccmensretreat.weebly.com/. To join in the live retreat on Aug. 1, go to the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr75D8gIh_SwtMLj2vmWiOQ/

Father Rodriguez will expand on the theme for the men’s retreat: “2020 Vision in Christ, Healer of Our Interior Life.” In addition to presenting four sessions, Father Rodriguez will celebrate Holy Mass. Other devotional activities planned include a Scriptural Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. The retreat is geared toward men of all ages in the Harrisburg Diocese. Brothers, fathers, sons and grandsons are encouraged to view the retreat together. Donations are accepted to help defray the costs of the retreat master’s honorarium and technological equipment, and can be mailed by check payable to ‘Corpus Christi Men’s Retreat’ to 320 Philadelphia Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17201. For more information about the retreat, contact Keith R. Smith at 717-263-3442, or [email protected].


DIOCESAN NOTEBOOK

Fundraisers & Events

Job Openings

Holy Angels Parish in Kulpmont will hold a Potato Cake Sale on Friday, July 10 from 3-7 p.m. at the Picnic Shed. Midnight Smokin’ BBQ event at Holy Infant Parish in Manchester, July 12 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Purchase take-out of delicious smoked meats. Take home or eat at the parish pavilion. Holy Infant Parish in Manchester will host The Italian Job food truck at the parish pavilion, July 26 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Eat at the pavilion or take orders home. Holy Infant Parish in Manchester will host “Rock N’ Roll at the Pavilion,” Aug. 8 from 6-10 p.m. Listen to music and relive the 1950s with music provided by DJ Michelangelo LaMattina. Dinner from The Sweet Patch Food Truck. Bring a chair or blanket or sit at a picnic table. Bring drinks and snacks to last the evening. St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Hanover’s Christmas in July Bazaar and Yard Sale, July 25 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Entertainment begins at 10 a.m. Music by Denny Kopp of Iron Ridge Bluegrass Band. Children’s entertainment by Critter Connections Petting Zoo.

empanadas, chorizo con arepa and gaseosa colombiana from Colombia; pinchos, pasteles and alcapurrias from Puerto Rico; and burritos, fajitas, tacos, tamales and enchiladas from the Mexican community. Entertainment to be announced. For more information, visit www.LancasterHispanicFestival.com. Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish in Myerstown presents Summerfest Café, Aug. 7 from 3-8 p.m., and Aug. 8 from 1-7 p.m. The festival may be canceled, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on some of your favorite foods. Menu both days features halupki, halusky, pierogies, fish and chips, apple dumplings, a bake sale, soda and water. The festival’s famous sausage will be served Friday; homemade meatball sandwiches are featured on Saturday. Rain or shine event; take out eat outside, weather permitting. Please bring bills only, or debit/credit cards. Visit the event’s Facebook page: mghsummerfest. Lancaster Catholic High School Crusader Football Golf Outing, Aug. 7 at Highlands of Donegal in Mount Joy.

Registration from noon-12:45 p.m., shotgun start at 1 p.m. Dinner provided after the round. Cost is $110 per player, $400 per foursome. Hole sponsorships available. Registration deadline is July 1. For a registration and sponsorship form, call Jim at 717-371-7188. Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Catawissa, annual picnic, July 31 and Aug. 1. Pick-up only, 3-8 p.m. Take-out potato cakes, halupki, pierogies, haluski, baked goods and raffle tickets. Pre-orders suggested by July 17; order on Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church’s Facebook page, via e-mail at [email protected]; or call 570-336-4771.

St. Joan of Arc School in Hershey is looking to hire the following employees, due to increasing enrollment and moving into a new school building. Clearances are needed for all positions: sixth-grade Language Arts teacher; seventh-grade middle school Math teacher; preschool 3 teacher for five full days a week;

Balloon twisting by Jerry Keebler Entertainment. Cookout of hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken. Cotton candy, beer garden, indoor bazaar and outdoor yard sale. The St. Pauline Foundation in Kulpmont, summer raffle on July 24 from noon-6 p.m. and July 25 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. More than 50 items, including Rae Dunn, Lenox, Longaberger, Vera Bradley, Kate Spade and bistro sets. Tickets are 26 for $20; additional sheets of 26 for $10. Homemade pigeons, haluski, sausage and more available for purchase – take out only. Social distancing and masks required. Those unable to attend can call JoAnn at 570-259-9299 to make an appointment to view items and purchase tickets July 20-23. The 37th Annual Hispanic Cultural Festival: Take-Out Edition, Aug. 31-Sept. 5 at San Juan Bautista Parish in Lancaster. With COVID regulations in place, San Juan Bautista will offer a modified festival, with food served to go and music livestreamed online. Festival culminates at 10 p.m. Saturday with a Grand Raffle of three large cash prizes of $5,000, $4,000 and $3,000. Traditional Hispanic cuisine includes More NOTEBOOK,

page 17


preschool 3 teacher for three half days a week; part-time Spanish teacher for grades 3-8; three classroom aides Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. for pre 3, pre 4 and middle school; support aide, Monday-Friday as needed; after-school care director, five days a week from 3-6 p.m.; custodian for Monday-Friday from 2:30-10:30 p.m.; and a cafeteria assistant for Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Send résumé or questions to Sister Eileen at [email protected] or call 717-533-2854, ext. 118. Sacred Heart Preschool in Lancaster has an opening for a part-time, long-term substitute teacher. Please contact Linda Simpson at 717-606-2670 with inquiries. St. Patrick School in Carlisle seeks caregivers for after-school extended day program, CARES. This is a five-day, part-time position from 2-5:30 p.m.; or Tuesday/Thursday position from 2-5:30 p.m.; or Monday/Wednesday/Friday position from 2-5:30 p.m. Workers should be adaptable and willing to work with children from ages 3-14. Pay starts at $10 an hour, subject to applicant’s experience. Tuition discount is a possibility for those with students at the school. Visit www.spscarlisle.org or contact Principal Antoinette Oliverio at [email protected] for more information or to set up an interview. Though it is not a requirement to have a teacher’s certification, it is necessary to complete all Diocesan

clearances, including Act 34 (PA State Police Background Clearance), Act 151 (PA Child Abuse History Clearance), Act 126 (Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training) and FBI clearance. St. Joseph School Extended Day Program in Mechanicsburg has an opening for a caregiver 2-3 afternoons per week from 2:15-5:30 p.m. Responsibilities include playing with and helping children, assisting children with homework, helping to serve snack, cleaning up after snack, and other duties as required by the director. Applicants will need to complete or submit (done within the past 12 months) all necessary employee clearances and background checks, along with a valid driver’s license. E-mail Linda Schneider at [email protected]. Employment opportunities available at Our Mother of Perpetual Help School in Ephrata. Technology Education & Integrated Technology Teacher (Grades K-8), Physical Education Teacher (Grades K-8), Art Education Teacher (Middle School Grades 6-8), After School Clubs Program Supervisor, and substitute teachers. If interested in any position, send a cover letter, résumé, transcripts, and pastor letter to Mrs. Patricia A. Foltz, Principal, at [email protected].

To report suspected abuse of a minor,please follow these two steps:

Call the toll-free PA Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-932-0313

Report suspected abuse of a minor by a church official, employee or volunteer by calling the diocesan toll-free hotline at 1-800-626-1608

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE WITH BOTH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE DIOCESE.Email: [email protected]

Diocese of HarrisburgYouth Protection Program www.YouthProtectionHBG.com

1 1-800-932-0313 2 1-800-626-1608

NOTEBOOKcontinued from 16

diocese to host online film screening of venerable ... · ‘beginning experience’ weekend for...

Documents