Black Catholic Apostolate Mass Celebrates Witnesses of Light to Break Chains of Darkness
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February 11, 2021 | Issue 39
Black Catholic Apostolate Mass Celebrates
Witnesses of Light to Break Chains of Darkness
By Jen Reed to live our lives in the way
The Catholic Witness that they lived their lives,
Images of seven so that the faith continues
Black Catholics placed to spread and the light of
at the altar during our witness will overcome
the Diocese’s Black the darkness,” he told The
Catholic Apostolate Catholic Witness.
Mass shared a dual The annual Mass,
message for those sponsored by the Diocese’s
in the congregation: Black Catholic Apostolate,
remember and is celebrated in conjunction
celebrate the good and with Black History Month.
holy works they did in It was held on Feb. 7 at
their lives, and stand St. Francis of Assisi in
on their shoulders to Harrisburg.
continue sharing their Father Deogratias
light. Rwegasira, AJ, served as
The portraited faces the principal celebrant,
were of six on the as recently-appointed
way to sainthood – spiritual moderator of the
Venerable Augustus apostolate. He was joined
Tolton, Venerable JEN REED, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS
at the altar by several
Pierre Toussaint, Young women clap along to traditional spiritual Black priests serving in the
Servant of God Julia music at the Black Catholic Apostolate Mass. Diocese and clergy from
Greeley, Servant of the parish.
God Henriette Delille, Deacon Timothy Tilghman of In his homily, Deacon
Servant of God Mother Mary the Archdiocese of Washington, Tilghman encouraged the
Elizabeth Lange and Servant guest homilist for the Mass. congregation to be witnesses
of God Sister Thea Bowma – “It’s great to see the six to the light in order to break the
and of St. Josephine Bakhita, African-American candidates for chains of darkness and despair.
canonized in 2000. sainthood on the altar, but there “What is it that we’re called
They are but among are many saints who are not to do today?” Deacon Tilghman
countless Black Catholics who canonized who have shown us
have shown us the way, said More APOSTOLATE
the way, and it’s important for us page 7
February 11, 2021 • The Catholic WITNESS- 2
Change in Distribution of Ashes this Year Follows Ancient Custom
By Jen Reed between our clergy and parishioners, allowing
The Catholic Witness us to maintain worship spaces that are as safe
The distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday as can be made during this continued time of
will look a little different this year. pandemic.”
The Vatican has given guidance about their Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is Feb.
distribution in light of safety measures during the 17 this year. It is a day of abstinence from meat
coronavirus pandemic. for all Catholics 14 years of age and older, and is
Instead of marking the forehead with ashes in a day of fasting for healthy individuals age 18-59.
the form of a Cross, clergy will sprinkle ashes on Find Lenten resources online at www.
top of the heads of those receiving them. hbgdiocese.org/lent.
“Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the
Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline Position Available: Diocesan Catholic
of the Sacraments, issued this instruction on Youth Organization (CYO) Director
the modification of the distribution of ashes for The Secretariat for Catholic Life and
this year,” explained Father Joshua Brommer, Evangelization of the Diocese of Harrisburg
Director of the Diocesan Office of Divine Worship. is seeking an individual to fill the part-
“It follows the ancient and biblical custom of time position of Diocesan Catholic Youth
sprinkling ashes on the top of the head.” Organization (CYO) Director. Position is
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the responsible for overseeing all areas of the
Discipline of the Sacraments published the note Diocesan CYO Basketball Program, with
on Jan. 12, and directed clergy to say the formula approximately 3,000 grade school and high
for distributing the ashes once to everyone school players on approximately 250 teams
present, rather than to each person. and nearly 500 coaches.
The priest or deacon, therefore, will say the Applicants will be expected to be in full
formula once – “Repent, and believe in the compliance with the Diocese of Harrisburg
Gospel,’ or ‘Remember that you are dust, and Youth Protection Program and accountable
to dust you shall return” – instead of to each to the Diocesan Director of Evangelization
individual. and Catechesis. Hourly compensation
He will cleanse his hands and put on a face commensurate with experience. Application
mask before distributing the ashes. He will then deadline is March 5, 2021.
sprinkle ashes over the head of each individual in For more information, contact the Office of
silence. Evangelization and Catechesis at jgontis@
“The sprinkling of ashes on top of the head is hbgdiocese.org.
a common practice followed in many parts of the Send resume and cover letter to:
world,” said Bishop Ronald Gainer. “This method employment@hbgdiocese.org
of distribution will limit the personal contact
Publisher: 4800 Union Deposit Road
The Most Rev. Ronald W. Gainer, Harrisburg, PA 17111-3710
DD, JCL, Bishop of Harrisburg
Phone: 717-657-4804
Executive Director for Public Relations:
Email: witness@hbgdiocese.org
Rachel Bryson, M.S.
rbryson@hbgdiocese.org Digital subscriptions provided complimentary to all
parishioners registered to a parish in the Diocese of
Managing Editor: Jennifer Reed
The mission of The Catholic Witness is jreed@hbgdiocese.org
Harrisburg. The Catholic Witness (ISSN 0008-8447,
to be of personal and practical help as USPS 557 120) is published digitally weekly except
we try to be loyal and true witnesses for Photojournalist: Chris Heisey Christmas/New Year by the Harrisburg Catholic
Christ in our daily living, spiritual and cheisey@hbgdiocese.org Publishing Association, 4800 Union Deposit Road,
Harrisburg, PA 17111.
temporal, in private and in public.
February 11, 2021• The Catholic WITNESS- 3
Did ‘the Roman Catholic Church’ Unjustly Collect Federal Aid?
AP Story Misrepresents Church Finances, Expert Says
By Jonah McKeown employees. entities, the article gives the
Catholic News Agency The loans, given by the Small impression that “this is all one
A Feb. 4 investigative story Business Administration, were budget with fungible dollars”—
from the Associated Press approved on a first come, first a “gross misrepresentation”
inaccurately portrays “the served basis. According to that belies a “fundamental
Roman Catholic Church” as reports, an estimated 12,000- ignorance” of Church finances
a “giant corporate monolith” 13,000 of the 17,000 Catholic in the U.S.
that raked in federal aid while parishes in the U.S. applied, The article goes on to claim
sitting on billions of dollars that and most were encouraged to that the total assets for all
they could have used to pay do so by their dioceses. Catholic entities in the U.S.,
employees, a canon and civil According to the AP’s including dioceses, parishes,
law expert told CNA. analysis, “dioceses” and “other and charities, totals more than
In reality, “the Roman Catholic institutions” collectively $10 billion and in some cases
Catholic Church” in the U.S. is received about $3 billion from increased slightly over the
made up of tens of thousands the PPP program, leading the course of the pandemic.
of separate nonprofits, most of authors to conclude that “the Importantly, to reach the
which did not have legal access Roman Catholic Church” was $10 billion figure, the AP “also
to liquid cash necessary to perhaps “the biggest beneficiary included funding that dioceses
pay their employees when the of the paycheck program.” had opted to designate for
pandemic took hold last year. Father Pius Pietrzyk, OP, special projects instead of
The CARES Act, passed in a canon and civil lawyer and general expenses; excess cash
March 2020, initially authorized a professor at St. Patrick that parishes and their affiliates
some $350 billion in loans to Seminary in Menlo Park, deposit with their diocese’s
small businesses, known as the California, told CNA that in savings and loan; and lines of
Paycheck Protection Program, conflating the finances of credit dioceses typically have
which was intended to allow dioceses with those of individual with outside banks.”
them to continue to pay their parishes and other Catholic The AP story does not assert
that dioceses or other Catholic
The Diocese of Harrisburg entities committed fraud or
offers congratulations and broke the law by applying for
prayerful best wishes to and receiving PPP loans, but
Most Reverend Larry J. a strong theme in the article
Kulick, on the occasion of is that “the Roman Catholic
his Ordination as the 6th Church” did not need the loans,
Bishop of Greensburg. and could have afforded to
Bishop Kulick’s Mass of continue to pay its employees
Ordination and Installation with the assets “the Church”
was being celebrated at had on hand.
press time on the afternoon The story is similar to a story
of Thursday, February 11. the AP published during July
A news article and photos 2020, which criticized the “U.S.
of the Ordination will be Roman Catholic Church” for
published online at www. accepting what appeared at the
hbgdiocese.org and in
next week’s edition of The More FEDERAL AID
Catholic Witness. page 4
February 11, 2021 • The Catholic WITNESS- 4
FEDERAL AID
contined from 3
time to be $1.4-3.5 billion worth of PPP loans.
But there is, both legally and financially, no
single entity that is the “U.S. Roman Catholic
Church.” Nearly each of the nation’s 17,000
parishes operates as its own nonprofit, and
weekly donations help to employ the priest, along
with the employees who maintain the parish and
its ministries.
The distinction in civil law is important, but
the distinction in canon law— the law governing
the Church— is also crucial to understand, and CNA/SHUTTERSTOCK
applies to every diocese in the world. which functions like a bank; deposits can then be
“Juridic persons” are defined in canon law withdrawn at any time for any reason.
as either aggregates of persons, or aggregates Importantly, dioceses do not— as the AP
of things, i.e. goods. Canon law protects the asserts— have the power to use the deposited
financial independence of each juridic person, money, which belongs to the parishes, as they
such as a parish. A “parish” is defined in canon see fit.
law as “a portion of the people of God.” “The bishop has no authority in canon law to
Under canon law, the assets of a parish are simply swoop in and clean out the bank account
managed by the pastor and are not “owned” by of a parish, nor does he have that ability in civil
the bishop, although he does exercise a certain law if they are separately established,” Father
degree of governance over them, Father Pietrzyk Pietrzyk pointed out.
explained. The AP story also does not adequately
Some— but only a minority— of U.S. portray Catholic endowments or foundations,
dioceses are incorporated in civil law as a many of which are required by law to respect
“corporation sole”, whereby all Church assets the intentions of donors and be used for specific
within the diocese are owned by the bishop. The purposes, Father Pietrzyk said.
Vatican has discouraged this form of corporate The foundations, too, are also separate civil
organization because of its incongruency with and canonical entities from the dioceses, and are
canon law. not subject to the bishop’s whims, he noted.
The canonical structure of the Church is, in For example, the AP reports that the
some ways, similar to the federal system in the Archdiocese of Chicago “had more than $1 billion
U.S., Pietrzyk said. The federal government in cash and investments in its headquarters and
exercises governance in individual states, but it cemetery division as of May [2020],” while at
does not “own” individual states, and thus cannot the same time “Chicago’s parishes, schools and
take funds away from one state budget and give ministries accumulated at least $77 million in
them to another state. paycheck protection funds.”
Catholic schools are, like parishes, separate The story implies that a fund specifically
legal entities and their employees work for the earmarked for cemeteries could somehow be
school, not for the diocese. repurposed to pay for salaries— a legal and
This does not mean that there is no free flow practical impossibility, Father Pietrzyk said.
of money between dioceses and parishes. All “You can’t, either in civil or canon law, simply
parishes are taxed by their dioceses. move those funds around contrary to the wishes
In addition, many dioceses operate “savings of the donor,” he said.
and loans,” whereby parishes send excess
money to a reserve fund managed by the diocese More FEDERAL AID
page 5
February 11, 2021• The Catholic WITNESS- 5
FEDERAL AID share resources. have saved about 18.6 million
contined from 4 That being said, the AP U.S. jobs.
story displays “incredible 20/20 Even with PPP money,
“The diocese can’t simply
hindsight,” Father Pietrzyk some dioceses, such as San
scoop out the cemetery fund
noted, and seems to gloss over Francisco’s, still had to cut
to start paying salaries for
the uncertainty of the period salaries— but, as the PPP
schoolteachers. That would be
in which the PPP program first intended, did not have to resort
fraud...they could be liable for
launched. to mass firings.
prosecution for something like
“There was a nationwide The AP does not cite any
that.”
sense of panic within the evidence that “Catholic entities”
The AP story includes quotes
Church at the time these funds unjustly took money away from
from an anonymous pastor in “a
were available. No vaccine in more deserving candidates.
Western state” as well as Father
sight, didn’t know how long Catholic entities, taken as a
James Connell, former vice
the pandemic would go on, whole, appear to have received,
chancellor of the Milwaukee
everything was being shut at most, about 0.6% of the
Archdiocese, who asserted that
down. Initial numbers from funds so far disbursed from the
“Catholic entities did not need
dioceses were that donations PPP program.
government aid” and should
were way down, as people Guidance from the SBA on
have instead, out of love of
themselves were uncertain eligibility for the loans stated
neighbor, left the funds for small
about their future.” that “no otherwise eligible
businesses to use.
At that time, a massive organization will be disqualified
Part of the reason for
reorganization of Church assets from receiving a loan because
their assertions was the fact
was not possible, legally and of the religious nature, religious
that many dioceses did not
practically. Without another identity, or religious speech of
experience the catastrophic
immediate source of income, the organization.”
downturn in assets that many
especially for small parishes PPP funds are still
expected in 2020, thanks in part
without much reserves, available for businesses that
to a healthy rebounding of the
large-scale firings of church need them, albeit with more
stock market.
employees could have taken restrictions than in previous
The investments made by
place, Father Pietrzyk said. rounds. All told, with Congress
many Catholic entities turned
By the AP’s own admission, adding $284 billion to the
out to be safer than they could
dioceses reported that their program in December, the
have been, Father Pietrzyk said,
hardest-hit churches saw PPP program is expected to
with the stock market largely
income drop by 40% or more eventually disburse nearly $1
recovering since the start of the
before donations began trillion in loans.
pandemic. But “nobody knew
to rebound months later, Another implication from
that in June.”
and schools took hits when the AP story worth refuting,
“To say that the Church
fundraisers were canceled and Father Pietrzyk said, is that
should not have taken that
families had trouble paying nonprofit, tax-exempt entities
money in June because things
tuition. are somehow less deserving of
are really rosy [next] January is
The purpose of the PPP, in government largess.
absurd,” he asserted.
part, was to relieve the nation’s It makes sense to allow
Catholic financial experts
unemployment system and nonprofits access to PPP
have recommended to Catholic
keep people employed, and funds, he said, because PPP
News Agency in the past
evidence shows that it likely was intended to cover worker’s
that parishes and dioceses
succeeded. Economists working salaries— workers who pay
especially well-prepared for a
with the Treasury Department’s income tax.
crisis ought to consider calling
Office of Economic Policy said
up struggling parishes or More FEDERAL AID
in December that the PPP may
dioceses voluntarily to offer to page 6
February 11, 2021 • The Catholic WITNESS- 6
FEDERAL AID York received was used solely justice, also wrote a response
contined from 5 for the purposes outlined in the to the July AP story, defending
The PPP loans did not directly law, that is to continue to pay the use of the PPP by Catholic
enrich the nonprofit entities employees their salaries and parishes, hospitals, schools,
that received them, but rather benefits. Not one penny of that dioceses, and social service
went straight to the employees. money was used in any way agencies.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of to settle lawsuits or pay victim- “The Paycheck Protection
New York noted this fact in a survivors of abuse. Program was designed to
letter he released following “We have none of this money protect the jobs of Americans
the AP’s July 2020 story. The left. It has all be [sic] distributed from all walks of life, regardless
archdiocese, as well as many of to our workers, and the of whether they work for for-
the archdioceses’ parishes, had government is carefully auditing profit or non-profit employers,
received PPP loans. it.” faith-based or secular,”
“Make no mistake, the money Archbishop Paul Coakley of Archbishop Coakley wrote.
that the Archdiocese of New Oklahoma City, chair of the US “The Catholic Church is
bishops’ committee on domestic the largest non-governmental
supplier of social services in the
United States. Each year, our
Catholic Men: Defenders of the Faith parishes, schools and ministries
Virtual Conference for Men serve millions of people in need,
regardless of race, ethnicity or
religion. The novel coronavirus
only intensified the needs of
the people we serve and the
demand for our ministries. The
loans we applied for enabled
our essential ministries to
continue to function in a time of
Bishop Ronald W. Gainer, DD, JCL Dr. William Donohue Fr. Robert Spitzer, SJ, PhD
national emergency.”
Bishop of Harrisburg President, The Catholic League President, The Magis Center “In addition, shutdown
orders and economic fallout
associated with the virus have
affected everyone, including the
thousands of Catholic ministries
-- churches, schools, healthcare
and social services -- that
employ about 1 million people in
Fr. Frederick L. Miller, STD Fr. John Szada, PhD Mr. Tony Devlin the United States,” Archbishop
Archdiocese of Newark Exorcist, Diocese of Harrisburg Army Investigator & Analyst
Coakley added.
MARCH 8:30am Online Platform Opens “These loans have been
an essential lifeline to keep
20th 9:00am Opening Remarks
The Harrisburg Diocesan Men’s Conference will be virtual
hundreds of thousands of
2021
this year. All those who register will receive a link to join the employees on payroll, ensure
conference live, as well as a recording of the event. families maintain their health
insurance, and enable lay
$10 per
person
Register at:
www.hbgdiocese.org/event/mens-conference
workers to continue serving
their brothers and sisters during
Presented by the Office of Evangelization & Catechesis for the Diocese of Harrisburg
this crisis.”
February 11, 2021• The Catholic WITNESS- 7
APOSTOLATE his glory, in his power, in his
continued from 1 love? Or do they see somebody
else?” Deacon Tilghman posed.
asked. He encouraged the
“When we go into the
faithful to revisit the day’s
village, when we go into the
Gospel passage (Mark 1:29-
neighborhood, when we go into
39) of Jesus meeting Simon’s
the nation, when we go into the
ill mother-in-law, and others
schools and the statehouses,
who were sick with disease or
and even when we go to Capitol
possessed by demons.
Hill, we go with the faith of our
“There was sickness in
ancestors who are part of this
the neighborhood, there was
community of saints. This is our
sickness in the nation, and there
faith, and this is our Church.”
was darkness throughout the
Inspiring the congregation
world,” said Deacon Tilghman.
in the sung chorus of “There is
“We’re all asking the question:
Power in the Name of Jesus,”
how do we overcome the
Deacon Tilghman remarked:
sickness and the darkness?
“When we witness, we break
… When the darkness comes,
the chains of darkness and Deacon Timothy Tilghman,
and if the Spirit intervenes,
despair, and we radiate the light guest homilist from Our Lady
the power of our witness and
and the love of Christ. This is of Perpetual Help Parish in
the good trouble that we bring
our faith. This is our Church. Washington, D.C., delivers a
cause the demons to depart.”
This is what we celebrate today. message about being witnesses
“There is a question for us
This is what we celebrate every of light to conquer darkness.
to ask, we who are the Church:
day.”
Who do people see when we
come? Do they see Jesus in ‘Be Who We are On Paper’ can take to witness against
Deacon racial injustice.
Tilghman In an interview with The
serves at Witness, Deacon Tilghman
Our Lady of said the challenge for the Black
Perpetual Catholic community is the
Help Parish, challenge for the Church in the
an African- United States: “If people of
American color don’t stay in the Church,
parish in it’s not just the people of color
Washington that suffer; the entire Church
that is suffers,” he said. “We cannot
celebrating afford to lose the beacons of
its 100th the light. We have to do a lot
anniversary of work to make sure we invite
this year. Part everyone in, and people feel at
of his ministry home and have the opportunity
includes to witness.
meeting “We have to meet
with young people. The Church is not a
Father Deogratias Rwegasira, AJ, spiritual African- demographic. The Church is
moderator of the Black Catholic Apostolate, American
distributes Communion during the apostolate’s Catholics on More APOSTOLATE
Mass on Feb. 7. actions they page 8
February 11, 2021 • The Catholic WITNESS- 8
Its spiritual moderator is
A member of the congregation takes
Father Deogratias Rwegasira,
a video at the conclusion of the Black
AJ, and the coordinator is
Catholic Apostolate Mass.
Angelé Mbassi. Activities of
the apostolate include regular
Masses, participation in national
conferences and an annual
summer picnic.
Father Rwegasira will be
featured in “The Called” in
next Thursday’s edition of The
Witness.
(Learn more about the Black
Catholic Apostolate at www.
hbgdiocese.org/multicultural-
ministries/. To learn more about
APOSTOLATE the Diocesan Annual Campaign,
continued from 7 “We just need to be,” he said. including how you can support
a body of people. Everybody “The power of our witness, the important ministries of the
knows the demographics; when we are Church, is going to Diocese, visit www.hbgdiocese.
nobody knows the people in the attract people to come. It’s real, org/giving/diocesan-annual-
neighborhood,” he said. it’s authentic, it’s true, it’s loving, campaign.)
Asked what specific action and it’s very powerful.”
the Church can take in this About
effort, Deacon Tilghman The Diocese’s Black
referenced the words of Dr. Catholic Apostolate
Martin Luther King, Jr., in his was established more
final sermon on April 3, 1968, than 30 years ago to
the night before his death: “All address the economic
we say to America is, ‘Be true to and spiritual concerns
what you said on paper.’” of people with African
“We just need to be the ancestry, and to
Church that we are on paper,” promote leadership,
Deacon Tilghman remarked. “If foster evangelization
you read about the Church in and address issues of
the documents of Vatican II, and racial injustice through
especially if you read about the family and educational
Church in the documents written programs. Today,
by Pope Francis – Evagelii those undertakings
Gaudium, Laudato Si’, Fantelli remain a mission of the
Tutti – you have a description apostolate.
of a living and breathing Under the auspices
institution, a body of people of the Diocesan
that loves people and stands Office of Multicultural
for justice. They’re not looking Ministries, the Black
to meet demographics, they’re Catholic Apostolate is
looking to meet the person on indirectly supported
the ground and love them in the by the Diocesan
place where they are. Annual Campaign.
February 11, 2021• The Catholic WITNESS- 9
Remembering Angela Orsini, Witness Contributor and Archives Volunteer
By Jen Reed through her story telling. She was well-traveled
The Catholic Witness and a living treasure-trove of interesting facts
Angela Orsini, a volunteer in the Archives at the about people and places, from U.S. presidents,
Diocese of Harrisburg since 2012 and a longtime Civil War battlefields and Church leaders to sites
friend of The Catholic in Rome and Lourdes,
Witness staff and author among the many places
of the “Saint Spotlight” she visited. And she
column, died on Feb. loved sharing stories
1 at Carolyn’s House about her parents,
of Hospice of Central the many priests she
Pennsylvania. had come to know
Angie was a staple throughout her 73 years,
at the Diocesan Center and her loving cousins
prior to the pandemic, who were her faithful
eager to share her caretakers at the end of
love for history, the her life.
Church and writing. A Whenever she visited
graduate of St. Francis us at The Witness –
of Assisi School and even as she took on the
Bishop McDevitt High rigors of chemotherapy
COURTESY OF MEG RYAN
School, she was – Angie always came
a Division Secretary Angela Orsini, left, celebrates with fellow with a smile and words
at the Pennsylvania Diocesan Archives volunteer Regina Zogby at a of encouragement.
Historical and Museum Diocesan Christmas dinner several years ago. Sometimes she came
Commission’s Division with personal gifts too:
of Archives and holy cards or medals of
Manuscripts, and the patron saints during our
Division of Archival and time of need, inspiring
Records Management photographs of days
Services for 30 years. gone by, or programs
She was also a from a special liturgy
Eucharistic Minister years ago.
and parish archivist at And she loved to
St. Francis of Assisi in laugh and reminisce.
Harrisburg for nearly She’d share memories
three decades. of her dancing days
Firm in her faith, and from when she studied
with a vast knowledge and taught dance, and
and enjoyment of took the stage at local
history, Angie shared theaters. “Believe it or
her talents with the COURTESY OF DIOCESAN ARCHIVES not, there was a time
Diocese – researching Angela Orsini is seen in this photo with Father when these gams could
and cataloging in Baker greeting Pope John Paul II at the Papal really move,” she’d say.
Archives, leading Palace in Rome on June 30, 1989. Angie enjoyed the
Catholic elementary camaraderie of those
school field trips at the Diocesan Center, and at the Diocesan Center, especially over lunches
authoring a regular Witness column on the lives of and coffee in the dining room, at Masses for
saints, venerables and servants of God. employees, and at the annual Christmas party,
Angie gave in other ways, too – most notably
More ANGELA, page 10
February 11, 2021 • The Catholic WITNESS- 10
ANGELA, continued from 9 held out hope for a return to volunteering in the
Archives.
where she’d always be the first one to put on a
In tribute to our friend, we share two of her
pair of reindeer antlers.
“Saint Spotlight” pieces on her favorite saints –
The drain of cancer and the treatments in
Thérèse of Lisieux and Bernadette – to whom
her fight against it took their toll on Angie, who,
she referred as being among her “many friends
even in the most trying times of her illness, still
in Heaven.”
found valiant ways to write for The Witness and
St. Thérèse of Lisiuex, Impoverished, the family lived in a dank former
“The Little Flower” prison and Bernadette contracted cholera
1873-1897 and suffered lifelong asthma which may have
Feast Day – October 1 contributed to her four-foot-seven-inch stature
Patroness of the Missions and little schooling. On February 11, 1858, while
gathering wood with her sisters, she heard a
Marie François Thérèse voice and saw a vision of a beautiful lady in
Martin was born January 2, a niche in the grotto of Massabielle. No one
1873, in Alençon, France. She believed Bernadette’s account. Her parents and
did not fully comprehend what authorities forbade her to return to the grotto,
the Carmel was, but at 15 desired to enter. On but she did. The lady asked her to return on 14
September 24, 1890, she received her Carmelite consecutive days. On February 25, as an act of
veil in Lisieux as Sister Thérèse of the Child penance, the lady asked Bernadette “to drink of
Jesus and the Holy Face. Although young, she the water of the spring, to wash in it and to eat
was an accomplished artist, playwright/poetess, of the herb that grew there.” The mud became
composer of prayers and avid letter writer. a spring and flows to this day. On March 2, the
Knowing that she could not do great things, she lady instructed that “a chapel should be built
adopted her “Little Way” – childlike surrender to and a procession formed.” Then, on March 25,
God in everything, joyful humility, confidence and Bernadette asked the lady her name and she
trust in His mercy and kindness, perseverance in answered, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
prayer and love in all things. Because Bernadette was a simple soul, the
During her seven years in Carmel, she bishop especially could not believe what she
suffered spiritually and physically, offering all to said because the dogma of the Immaculate
God. At her last agony from tuberculosis she Conception had not yet been proclaimed.
said, “If I had not had faith I would have taken my Eventually, thousands came to the grotto.
life without hesitation.” On September 30, 1897, Bernadette entered the Sisters of Charity at
she succumbed, saying, “O, I love Him. My God, Nevers, France, and became known as Sister
I love you.” She was canonized in 1925. She Marie-Bernard. While there, she contracted
is principal patroness of the missions with St. tuberculosis of the lungs and bone. When asked
Francis Xavier, second patroness of France with about the apparitions, she replied, “The Virgin
St. Joan of Arc, and a daughter of the Church. used me as a broom to remove dust. When
Compiled by Angela M. Orsini, October 2018
the work is done, the broom is put behind
St. Bernadette Soubirous the door again.” Bernadette died on April 16,
1844-1879 1879, at age 35. Her incorrupt body, encased
Feast Day: April 16 in wax, lies in a gold and crystal reliquary in the
Patroness of illnesses, people Chapel of St. Bernadette in the Motherhouse at
ridiculed for their piety and Nevers. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI on
Lourdes, France December 8, 1933, the 75th anniversary of the
dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
Bernadette Soubirous was Compiled by Angela M. Orsini, March 2019
born in Lourdes, France,
on January 7, 1844.February 11, 2021• The Catholic WITNESS- 11
Catholic Schools Week is always an exciting time for
Catholic Schools Week students, teachers and families. This year’s celebration was
Celebrations even more meaningful, as schools celebrated in-person
learning, and showed much-deserved appreciation for the
dedication and efforts of teachers and administration. The
following photos were submitted from our Catholic schools.
Clockwise from top
right: St Joseph in
York, Delone
Catholic in
McSherrystown, St.
Patrick in Carlisle,
Resurrection in
Lancaster, Our
Mother of Perpetual
Help in Ephrata and
St. Joseph in
MechanicsburgFebruary 11, 2021 • The Catholic WITNESS- 12
Youth Protection Program
To report suspected abuse of a minor, call the toll
free PA Child Abuse Hotline:
1-800-932-0313
To report suspected abuse of a minor by a church
official, employee or volunteer, also please call the
Diocese of Harrisburg Youth Protection Hotline:
1-800-626-1608 or email: ReportAbuse@
hbgdiocese.org
Para reportar la sospecha del abuso de un menor,
llame al número de teléfono gratuíto Línea de
Ayuda Abuso del Niño Pennsylvania
1-800-932-0313
Para reportar la sospecha del abuso de un menor
a manos de un official, empleado o voluntario de St. Theresa School in New Cumberland
la iglesia, también llame al número de teléfono created a “HEROES” quilt for their
gratuíto de ayuda diocesana: Catholic Schools Week display. Each
square of the quilt was created by student
1-800-626-1608 o envíe correo electrónico: and staff member’s artwork of what makes
ReportAbuse@hbgdiocese.org someone a hero. The winning theme this
year was from sixth grader,Sophie
Lapore. HEROES stands for Helping
Everyone Reach Our Eternal Salvation.
Mary’s Way of the Cross
with the Council of Catholic Women A Walk to Jerusalem:
Join the Harrisburg Diocesan Spiritual and Physical
Council of Catholic Women in Exercise Program
praying Mary’s Way of the Cross, Sponsored by the Harrisburg
each Wednesday during Lent Diocesan Council of
at 7 p.m., beginning on Ash Catholic Women
Wednesday.
In these Stations, we will see and
feel, through Mary’s perspective, Journey begins Ash Wednesday
what Jesus experienced on the The virtual Walk to Jerusalem permits
way to Calvary. pilgrims to join at any time and to
individually choose their exercise,
Send an e-mail to hbghdccw1921@gmail.com for whether physical or spiritual.
information on how to connect to this weekly prayer
via Zoom or by phone. Visit hdccw.webs.com to learn more
about the program and to register.February 11, 2021• The Catholic WITNESS- 13
Peace: A Heartbeat with Creation but they, as
all children
By Sister Geralyn Schmidt, SCC discovered perfect peace.” do, begin
The Catholic Witness I share this story with you to resemble
I grew up in Northeastern as I continue my series on the God, their true
New Jersey. While I know Beatitudes. Let’s focus on, Father. True
that those who are born in “Blessed are the peacemakers, peacemakers
Pennsylvania really doubt that for they will be called children of are faithful to
New Jersey could be beautiful, God.” the message
I grew up in a truly wonderful Peace. In today’s pandemic of Christ;
area full of uncharted woods, world, peace can seem a far off, they see Him “Thoughts from a
old growth trees, lakes and impossible thing. Our world is in the faces of Catholic Evangelist”
streams and even a watershed! at war with itself, and all of us, every single
Within five minutes of where I including me, are the infantry man and woman.
grew up, there was a large area in this army. Think about it this Recently, I came across
of woods, many hiking trails and way: Have you ever heard a short film on YouTube
a reservoir. The area is called something about someone and called Butterfly Circus.1 The
Butler or Kakeout Reservoir then repeated it to another while description of the film says:
and it is still open for those who embellishing it to make it more “At the height of the Great
want to hike. sensational? If you can say, Depression, the showman
One day, as a middle “Yes,” then you are guilty, as am (Eduardo Verastegui) of a
schooler, I was visiting the I, of giving Peace a black eye. renowned circus leads his
watershed alone. I was sitting Words are not the only troupe through the devastated
on a rock along the shore. weapons in this war. Have you American landscape, lifting the
I remember the day was ever used social media, or spirits of audiences along the
absolutely beautiful: blue re-Tweeted, reposted, texted, way. During their travels they
sky, white puffy clouds, a or shared by another means discover Will (Nick Vujicic), a
warm breeze and penetrating something destructive about man without limbs, at a carnival
sunshine. Being alone, I someone? If you answered, sideshow, but after an intriguing
remember singing a song at the “Yes,” then social media has encounter with the showman
top of my lungs and listening to become a modern-day arsenal he becomes driven to hope
my voice echo over the water. for destroying Peace. against everything he has ever
I laughed at my “less-than- Have you truly owned that believed.” (From YouTube)
melodious” voice. I got quiet the reason why the world is the I encourage you to watch this
and I listened. I could hear the way it is, is because all of us short film, and don’t forget to
lapping of the water at my feet, have not stood up and lived out bring some tissues with you! As
the rush of the water down the what we are called to be? This the film attests, peacemakers
waterfall behind me, the twerp “being” is being a Child of God! are individuals who can see
of the barn swallows and the Let me say this again: If you God’s beauty buried beneath
distant cry of a hawk. have been baptized, you are a flesh, or circumstances that
All this was a precursor for Child of God! could make some folks doubt
a moment in which I realized Peacemakers are made that God even cares. Being a
there was a “heartbeat” in when we choose to foster peacemaker is hard work and
nature. That heartbeat and true friendship within society. requires an openness of mind
mine became one just for an Peacemakers are individuals and of heart. Such openness
instance. It was such a grace who can calmly speak the truth makes your heart beat as
because it was the first time without insulting, screaming, one with everything that God
that I truly felt at one with intimidation, or back biting. They creates!
creation and with the Creator. live out their baptismal promises 1https://www.youtube.com/
I remember saying out loud to to such a degree that they are watch?v=y_MCwlY6zzg
myself, “What just happened? I not only called children of GodFebruary 11, 2021 • The Catholic WITNESS- 14
The Catholic
Book Blogger’s Review
Praying with Jesus and Faustina During Lent
And in Times of Suffering
by Susan Tassone
By Pete Socks 6. Jesus and St. Faustina
Special to The WItness on Making a Good
What can I say? Susan Confession
Tassone has done it again! Of particular note is the
When it comes to prayer Appendix. Included are an
books with purpose, I have overview of the Chaplet of
found Susan’s various titles to Divine Mercy, the promises of
be a great go-to source. This the chaplet, as well as a little
things I really liked about the
Lent, we are treated with yet gem. A Novena to the Divine
book was something that was
another. Praying with Jesus Mercy for the Conversion of
tucked away in an Appendix of
and Faustina During Lent the World is perhaps one of
the book and that is The Novena
And in Times of Suffering is the most needed novenas of
to the Divine Mercy for the
Susan’s latest and it will be a our time. We are living during
Conversion of the World. Now,
valuable asset to your Lenten a time of darkness. We simply
I’m sure that when you were
journey this year and beyond. cannot deny that. It’s all around
compiling this book, our current
If you have never us and it’s pressing in. What
situation in this country was the
encountered a book by Susan the world needs right now is the
furthest thing from your mind.
Tassone, you are missing out. promise of Divine Mercy. We
I’m sure no one imagined we’d
Known as “The Purgatory as Catholics MUST become
be where we are today. So what
Lady,” Susan has a deep Divine Mercy warriors with
are your thoughts on the current
devotion to the Holy Souls one objective in mind: Saving
situation? And how can devotion
in Purgatory, Jesus, Divine our world from the clutches of
to Divine Mercy help?
Mercy and St. Faustina. She Satan and his minions.
Susan Tassone: Well, you
has written multiple books on I have been on a quest to
know, our country is roiling in
each topic. find resources that can help
anger. It’s, you know, it’s a mess.
This book is divided into us do just that. Many choices
And so, what does Jesus want
six sections of meditations as have come from the late
to tell us? He wants to remind
follows: 1800s to early 1900s. There
us of His mercy and His love.
1. Praying with Jesus is just something about these
And he told us that his greatest
and Faustina during classic books from what seems
attributes were his word, His
Lent and in Times of another age. Susan Tassone
love and His mercy.
Suffering is rooted in the truths taught
First of all, be merciful to
2. Meditations on the back then. I’d encourage you to
yourself, and be merciful to
Passion and the Way make her latest book a part of
others, to exercise mercy, to
of the Cross with St. your Lenten devotional journey.
forgive yourself and others, to
Faustina Not only can it change you,
share disagreements without
3. Taking Refuge in the but it may just help change the
becoming disagreeable, and to
Wounds of Jesus world.
turn to Divine Mercy, for advice
4. Uniting Our Sufferings
and comfort. That’s what I think,
with Our Lady’s
5. Litanies for Lent and in Interview Highlight:
More BOOK REVIEW
Times of Suffering Pete Socks: One of the
page 15February 11, 2021• The Catholic WITNESS- 15
BOOK REVIEW, continued from 14 these novenas. In fact, that novena is a novena
for the world. Every group is covered in that
the messages were for St. Faustina. And in her novena. That novena is supposed to be prayed
day, it applies to us now, more than ever. It’s a all year round.
reminder. He wants to tell us that He loves us. He wants us to join those prayers, our fasting,
And that’s number one, in all the books and the our labors, our sufferings, our mortifications with
whole diary, that He created you, He suffered for His because, He said, “they will have power
you and He died for you, that you’re His beloved, before my Father.” He said, help me save souls,
you have a mission to feel fulfilled like no one join these sufferings to my passion and offer
else, and no one will ever be able to fulfill your them to the Father. And he said, your suffering
mission, ever. There’s only you, there’s only one will become a source of your sanctification.
you, there will never be another one like you. Full Interview link: https://catholicstand.com/
Also, we’re not alone. He’s with us. Be at praying-with-jesus-and-faustina-during-lent-
peace, do not fear death, go to Confession, do episode-204-with-susan-tassone/
His will because that’s the way out of purgatory.
Say the Chaplet and receive Holy Communion
frequently. Adore and sacrifice and fast, and fast Harrisburg Diocesan
in ways you know. Council of Catholic Women
These things that He said, these practices and
our sufferings, that will help Him rescue souls. He “SAVE THE DATE”
said there’s one price by which a soul is bought 95th Annual Convention,
and that is suffering united to His suffering. And held virtually
He says to join in these prayers, these litanies,
Saturday, April 17, 2021
“Rejoice and Be Thankful”
Walking with Jesus to Calvary
Keynote Speaker: Sarah Christmyer
Virtual Youth Lenten Retreat
Workshop Presenters:
• Donna Giberti - “Finding Forgiveness
on the El Camino de Santiago de
Compostela”
• Kelly Gollick “ - Active Listening Basics –
How to be a Better Listener”
Join Chris Wood for an • Tina Kowalski - “SHINE”-Faith Based
engaging hour of reflection on
Exercise Program
Jesus’ final steps to Calvary,
exploring His fear, pain and hdccw.webs.com/hdccw-convention
suffering and how you can
grow closer to Him. Nominess Accepted for Our
When: February 20 Lady of Good Counsel Award
Time: 1 - 2 p.m. This award will recognize a woman in the
Diocese who has made a significant
Who: Youth,
contribution at any level in the Council
7th - 12th
of Catholic Women. The inaugural
grades
recipient will be awarded at the
Registration: Free (donations appreciated) convetion. Nomination packets can be
Register at: https://hbgdiocese.formstack.com/forms/ found at https://hdccw.webs.com/olgc-
virtual_lenten_retreat award. The deadline for nominations is
Register By: Thursday, Feb. 18 March 17.February 11, 2021 • The Catholic WITNESS- 16
OBITUARIES Deceased Clergy
The names of the following deceased persons have been submitted by Please pray for the following
their parishes. Please remember in your prayers the happy repose of clergy who died in January during
these recently departed souls and the consolation of their loved ones. the past 25 years:
Bloomsburg Marisa Magnuson Deacon Stephen Bankos, 1996
St. Columba: Anna McCarty Father Paul Miller, 2004
Dudley Cooley Anna Fedock Father Joseph Celia, 2005
Buchanan Valley Lebanon Deacon Matthew Culley, 2005
St. Ignatius Loyola: Assumption BVM: Father Philip DeChico, 2006
Betty Armstrong Mary Louise Allwein
James Uhrich Father Robert Strome, 2007
Camp Hill Msgr. Lawrence Overbaugh, 2008
Raymond Fox
Good Shepherd:
Mary Ceresini Will Father Brian Conrad, 2011
Jean Vorse
Melissa Santella Deacon James Sneeringer, 2011
Carlisle Carol Radesky
John Krick Father Joseph Hilbert, 2014
St. Patrick:
Cecelia J. “Sue” Leonard Paul Hirlinger Father Louis P. Ogden, 2015
Theresa Kutz Deacon Robert Mack, 2018
Catawissa John Landis
Our Lady of Mercy: Deacon Martin McCarthy, 2019
Helene Eisenhauer
Paul Milo
Irene M. Jessick St. Cecilia:
Tina Detweiler Trevorton
Conewago St. Patrick:
Sacred Heart of Jesus: Mount Carmel Joseph M. Donovan
Frederick Noel Divine Redeemer:
Eugene Glowacki Waynesboro
Danville Gilda L. Kalinoski-Scott St. Andrew the Apostle:
St. Joseph: Elizabeth B. Greco Richard Bricker
Ann Nicodemus Donald McDonald
Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Alexander Milho
Harrisburg Anna Mae Kushner John Navolio
St. Catherine Labouré: Robert Polinski Robert J. O’Toole
Mary Minnici Richard Collier Dorothea Peters
Anne Titler
M. Elizabeth Powers
Rohrerstown
St. Francis of Assisi: Kenneth Youngmann
St. Leo the Great:
Angela Orsini MaryAnn Mowery York
Hershey Richard J. Bergan Immaculate Conception BVM:
St. Joan of Arc: Kathleen Hidenfelter
Selinsgrove
Richard Baiocchi Rodney Rooney
St. Pius X:
Lancaster Robert Chesny St. Joseph:
St. John Neumann: Duane Gottsch
Steelton
Anna Marie Bare Catherine Knouse
Prince of Peace:
Robert Queppet Alfred Carricato
Mary Jane Garden Rosemary (Rodgers) FlaminiFebruary 11, 2021• The Catholic WITNESS- 17
LENTEN FISH
DINNERS
Reel-in some delicious meals this Lent at a
number of fish dinners hosted by parishes
and Knights of Columbus councils.
Dinners are take-out only.
(Submit your parish’s information via e-mail to
communication@hbgdiocese.org for promotion in
The Witness and at www.hbgdiocese.org.)
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Cornwall, St. Francis Xavier Parish in Gettysburg,
Lenten Fish Dinners, Wednesdays Feb. 3-March Lenten Fish Fry Dinners on Fridays, Feb. 19,
31 from 4-7 p.m. Walk in and take out, or drive up 26, March 5, 12 and 19 at Xavier Center, 465
only. Baked or fried fish, baked or fried potatoes Table Rock Road, Gettysburg. Menu includes
and coleslaw or applesauce and a Bernie’s fried haddock, mac and cheese, seasoned
Bakers homemade dessert for $10. potatoes, roasted vegetables, and corn pudding.
Curbside pick-up only, subject to change due
St. Peter Parish in Columbia, Lenten Fish Fry, to COVID-19. Call 717-334-4048 or visit www.
Feb. 19 through March 26. Take-out service only, stfxcc.org or www.sfxpccw.org for more
from 4-6:30 p.m., at the Parish Center, Second information, menu and updates.
and Union Streets. Customers will be asked
to wear masks and practice social distancing. Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Enola is hosting
Customers are asked to call in orders at 717- 6 dinners during Lent on Fridays, Feb. 19 and 26,
684-0414 Wednesday or Thursday evening and March 5, 12, 19 and 26. All dinners are take-
from 6-8 p.m. each week prior to the Friday out only, from 4-7 p.m. Menu includes seasoned
Fish Fry. Orders can also be placed via e-mail baked cod, church-made baked macaroni &
at stpetersfishfry@gmail.com. The order must cheese, church-made pierogis, veggies, stewed
be in by 8 p.m. the Thursday prior to the Fish tomatoes, cole slaw, roll, dessert and bottled
Fry. A limited number of walk-in orders will be water. Baked fish dinners and fish and pierogi
available. Menu includes platters of baked dinners are $12. Mac and cheese dinners and
haddock, crab cakes, fried filet of fish, and fried pierogi dinners are $10. Children are $5 for
shrimp. Baked macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, any meal. Visit the website for updates, www.
stewed tomatoes and a dinner roll are included ourladyoflourdesenola.org.
in the price of the platter. Two sandwiches are
also on the menu: fried fish filet and crab cake. Holy Angels Parish in Kulpmont will serve
Side orders of macaroni and cheese, stewed Lenten fish dinners on Fridays during Lent from
tomatoes, cole slaw and soup may also be 4-5:30 p.m. or until sold out. Take-out only,
purchased. The homemade soups, cream of from the parish activity center. Donation of $10
crab, potato and cheesy broccoli, will rotate includes baked fish, potato, vegetable, cole slaw,
each week. A variety of individually wrapped applesauce or fruit cocktail, soup, bread and
baked goods made by the women of the parish dessert! Masks required.
will also be available. The event is sponsored
by the Parish Council of Catholic Women with
assistance from men of the parish and is open More FISH DINNERS
to the public. Proceeds are used to fund various page 18
activities in the parish.February 11, 2021 • The Catholic WITNESS- 18
FISH DINNERS Knights of Columbus on at 1575 New Danville
continued from 17 Pike in Lancaster, Lenten take-out dinners on
Fridays Feb. 19-April 2. Meals are $15 plus tax,
St. Cecilia Parish in Lebanon, Lenten Fish kids’ meals are $6 plus tax, and family meals for
Dinner, take-out only, Fridays Feb. 19-March 26 four are $50 plus tax. Kids’ meals are macaroni
from 4-7 p.m. at the social hall on East Lehman and cheese and fish sticks. All meals include a
Street. Dinners are $10 and include fried or side salad, roll and butter and dessert. Curbside
baked haddock, fries or baked potato, pepper pickup; we will bring your order to your car
cabbage, roll and butter and assorted desserts. when you arrive. Order must be placed no later
than the Wednesday prior to the Friday event.
Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Credit or debit is preferred, payment is made at
Parish in Middletown, Fish Fry in drive-thru the time of pickup which runs from 5-7:30 p.m.
fashion beginning Friday, Feb. 19 and continuing Place orders by calling Stephanie at 717-286-
weekly through March 26 from 5-8 p.m. Menu 7449. Feb. 19: Yuengling beer battered haddock,
includes fish & chips, baked haddock, fried macaroni and cheese, and broccoli. Feb. 26:
shrimp, pierogies, mac n cheese, fish sandwich, Steamed shrimp, rice pilaf, mixed vegetables.
cole slaw, and veggies. Three desserts will be March 5: Homemade crab cakes, roasted
available: chocolate cake with peanut butter potatoes, baby carrots. March 12: Broiled salmon
icing, chocolate fudge cake, and lemon berry with mango salsa, rice, spinach. March 19:
mascarpone cake. The school campus lot will Cod with lemon butter, buttered pasta, cheesy
only be accessible after 4:30 p.m. No call-in cauliflower. March 26: Fish and chips, coleslaw.
orders may be placed. All orders are first- April 2: Crab cakes with shrimp, baked potato,
come, first-serve in the manner of a fast-food green beans.
drive-thru. Cash, check, MasterCard, Visa,
and Discover cards are accepted. Handmade Knights of Columbus of Our Lady of Good
chocolate eggs will also be available in peanut Counsel and St. Bernadette, Fish Fry at St.
butter milk chocolate, peanut butter dark Bernadette in Duncannon Feb. 19 and March 5
chocolate, coconut dark chocolate, and butter and 19 from 4-7 p.m. or until sold out. Cost is $10
cream milk chocolate. Each egg is $1.00. For for adults, $5 for children and free for children
more information, including full menu (subject to under 3. The meal will include fried fish fillet, mac
change) and campus diagram, visit www.ssbvm. and cheese, vegetable, stewed tomatoes, bread
org. roll and applesauce. This will be a drive-thru
event only.
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in
Elysburg, Lenten Fish Dinners, Feb. 19, March 5 Seton Suppers at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
and March 19 from 4-6 p.m. Take-out only. Cost Parish in Mechanicsburg, Feb. 27, March 27
is $9 per platter, which includes baked haddock and April 24. Monthly homemade drive-through
with butter and lemon, fingerling potatoes, dinners on the 4th Saturday of the month.
vegetable, cole slaw, roll and butter. Upcoming meals are Feb. 27: “Not a Friday,
but Still a Fish Dinner” with potato-crusted cod,
Holy Spirit Parish in Palmyra, Fish Fry on baked potato, coleslaw, roll & butter. March
Fridays during Lent, Feb. 19-March 26 from 3-7 27: “Early Easter” with ham, sweet potato,
p.m. Served curbside to-go. Order online through roasted vegetables, roll & butter. April 24:
the parish website or place an order from your “Signs of Spring” with chicken stir-fry, rice, spring
car when you arrive. Food will be delivered to vegetables. Learn more and pre-order online at
your vehicle. Menu includes Atlantic haddock, https://www.steas.net/setonsuppers/.
crab cakes, shrimp, clam strips, pierogi dinner.
Seafood dinners include cole slaw or apple
sauce, fries and a dinner roll. Extra sides include
fries, pierogies, soup, mac n cheese, crab cake,
apple sauce and cole slaw.February 11, 2021• The Catholic WITNESS- 19
DIOCESAN for politics and social justice.
Her interests reflect God as
contacted via your email for a
link.
NOTEBOOK Creator & Teacher. This retreat
is silent and is intended to be
Pilgrimage to the Holy
Land in 2022 with Father
Masses & contemplative. It will be a time Michael Reid, pastor of St.
Prayer Services for personal prayer and meeting Vincent de Paul Parish in
In conjunction with the privately twice with a spiritual Hanover. Father Reid will
National 40 Days for Life director to discuss one’s lead a group of 24 pilgrims
Campaign, a Jericho Prayer experience of God in prayer. on an active and spiritual
March will be held on Saturdays The cost of the retreat is $70 tour of the Holy Land, Jan.
February 20, 27, and March and the registration deadline 31-Feb. 11, 2022. The 12-day
6, 13, 20, 27 in Lebanon. The is Friday, Feb. 12th. You can itinerary organized by Select
Jericho Prayer March is a silent, register online at www.sscm. International Tours includes
prayerful march to make a org or by calling 570-275- Mount Tabor, Nazareth, Cana,
visible, public awareness for 0910. Registration will be Galilee, Tabgha, Magdala,
the pro-life movement to end limited to 5 total participants. Mount of Beatitudes,
the evil of abortion. Arrive After registering, you will be Capernaum, Mount
and assemble in prayer groups contacted via your email for a Carmel, Caesaria Maritima,
any time between 10 a.m. and link. Bethlehem, Shepherd’s Field,
noon in front of Assumption Jericho, Baptism Site, The
Virtual, Silent, 24 Hour
BVM Church at South 8th and Dead Sea (with optional visit
Directed Retreat, Feb. 19th
Cumberland Streets. As people to Masada), Mount of Olives,
at 7 p.m. to Feb. 20th at 7 p.m.
arrive, you will go out in groups. Mount Zion, Jerusalem, St
The virtual retreat is presented
Directions, prayer sheets, Anne’s Church, and Ein
by LuAnn Sgrecci O’Connell,
and banners will be given for Karem. Land and Air cost
a life-long explorer, learner
the walk, which should take is $3,695; a deposit of $500
and teacher. Her degrees in
approximately 30 to 45 minutes. is required by Oct. 3, 2021.
economics and public policy
Join us for all the Saturdays, or Flights depart from and return
analysis inform her concern
choose any weekend. There is no to Newark International
for politics and social justice.
need to register. For information, Airport. For a brochure and
Her interests reflect God as
contact Lucy at 717-926-4075 or other information, please
Creator & Teacher. This retreat
lrgilott@gmail.com or Sandra at contact Father Reid at 717-
is silent and is intended to be
717-838-5243. 637-4625, ext. 113.
contemplative. It will be a time
Retreats & for personal prayer and meeting Education &
Pilgrimages privately once with a spiritual Enrichment
director to discuss one’s
Virtual Silent Directed Diocesan Office of
experience of God in prayer.
Weekend Retreat, Feb. 19th Vocations’ bi-monthly Zoom
The cost of the retreat is $35
at 7 p.m. to Feb. 21st at 2 p.m. discernment group. Young
and the registration deadline
The virtual retreat is presented men (junior year in high
is Friday, Feb. 12th. You can
by LuAnn Sgrecci O’Connell, school through young adults)
register online at www.sscm.
a life-long explorer, learner are invited to take part in this
org or by calling 570-275-
and teacher. Her degrees in online discussion. To register,
0910. Registration will be
economics and public policy e-mail the Office of Vocations
limited to 5 total participants.
analysis inform her concern After registering, you will be More NOTEBOOK, page 20You can also read
