Bishop Schlert Welcomed at First of Five Deanery Masses

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1 The Allentown in the Year of Our Lord VOL. 29, NO. 16 SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 Bishop Schlert Welcomed at First of Five Deanery Masses Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert, center, celebrates Mass Sept. 19 at St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton with priests and deacons serving the Northampton Deanery. The date also marked Bishop Schlert s 30 th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. It is very much God s divine providence that I am back at the parish where I said my first Mass. It is very edifying for me to be among so many people who nurtured my vocation, said Bishop Schlert. See more photos from the Mass on page 6. (Photos by Ed Koskey) More photos page 6 Last Reminder About Diocesan Family Festival This Sunday All members of the Diocesan family are invited to share faith, fellowship and fun at the Diocesan Family Festival hosted by the of Allentown Sunday, Sept. 24 at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. A fun-filled day for the whole family is on tap for everyone in the five-county diocese. The day will begin with an outdoor, multicultural Mass celebrated at 11 a.m. The festival will continue from noon to 4 p.m. Be sure to bring lawn chairs. No outdoor seating will be provided. There will be games, activities, music and food for family members of all ages. Games and activities for all ages will include a petting zoo, face painting, duck pond, inflatable bounce house, obstacle course and team competitions. A roaming entertainer will be making balloons. The Island Time Band will provide live music on the TD Stage, and DJ Wesley Works Please see FESTIVAL page 3 }} Festival Familiar Diocesano Reserve la Fecha Les esperamos para un día lleno de diversión para toda la familia el domingo, 24 de septiembre de 2017, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. en SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way en Bethlehem. El día empieza con una Misa multicultural al aire libre celebrada a las 11 a.m. (traer su propia silla). Las festividades comienzan luego de la Misa. Habrá comida étnica a la venta auspiciada por las parroquias de la diócesis con juegos y actividades para todas las edades. Habrá un mini-zoo y maquillaje artístico infantil, casa inflable para brincar, curso de obstáculos inflable y más. Entretenimiento musical a cargo de la banda local Island Time y el entretenimiento juvenil proporcionado por DJ Wesley Works. No se requiere reservaciones. Para más información, llame al o envíe un correo electrónico a cle@allentowndiocese.org. Visite el sitio web diocesano para ver fotos del evento del año pasado al Remaining Deanery Masses With New Bishop People of the of Allentown are invited to celebrate the ordination and installation of Bishop Alfred Schlert at special deanery Masses (see invitation page 3). Bishop Schlert celebrated Mass with the Northampton Deanery Sept. 19 at St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton (see photos above and page 6). The remaining Masses, all beginning at 7 p.m., are: Thursday, Sept. 21 Berks Deanery, St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Albans Drive and Whitfield Boulevard, Sinking Spring. Monday, Sept. 25 Carbon Deanery, St. Joseph, 526 North St., Jim Thorpe. Monday, Oct. 2 Schuylkill Deanery, St. Clare of Assisi, Mill and Hancock streets, St. Clair. Wednesday, Oct. 4 Lehigh Deanery, St. Francis of Assisi, 1046 W. Cedar St., Allentown.

2 2 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 Published biweekly on Thursday by Allentown Catholic Communications, Inc. at P.O. Box F Allentown, PA Phone: , Ext. 264 Fax: adtimes@allentowndiocese.org President Bishop Alfred Schlert Editor Jill Caravan Staff Writers Tara Connolly Tami Quigley Design & Production Marcus Schneck Advertising Contact Lori Anderson Office Assistant Priscilla Tatara MISSION STATEMENT As part of the Catholic Press, The A.D. Times is the official newspaper for the Roman Catholic of Allentown, serving Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties. The A.D. Times proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the People of God through evangelization, catechesis and the teaching of the Church, the extension of Christ s presence in the world today. It endeavors to nourish, strengthen and challenge the faith of its readers by continually providing news information, formation, inspiration, religious education and Catholic identification. Under the patronage of Mary, Mother of the Church, The A.D. Times serves the Church so that the Kingdom of God might become a reality in our society transformed by His Good News. POLICY STATEMENTS The A.D. Times will consider all editorial copy and photos submitted in a fair and objective manner. The newspaper reserves the right to reject or edit any submission. Any advertising copy accepted does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or endorsement of The A.D. Times and/or its publisher. The A.D. Times reserves the right to reject any advertising copy submitted. DEADLINES Advertising copy must be received by Monday of the week before publication. News copy must be received by Thursday of the week before publication. MEMBERSHIPS Catholic Press Association, Rockville Centre, N.Y. Catholic News Service, Washington, D.C. Catholic Press Association Award Winner 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 POSTAL INFORMATION The A.D. Times (USPS ) is published on Thursdays, biweekly January to May; triweekly June to September; biweekly October to November; and triweekly in December, at a subscription cost of $20 per year by Allentown Catholic Communications, Inc. at 1515 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Allentown, PA Periodicals Postage paid at Allentown, PA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The A.D. Times, P.O. Box F, Allentown, PA Episcopal Appointments Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert has made the following appointments, all effective Sept. 1. Msgr. Thomas Koons to Promoter of Justice for the of Allentown, in service to the Diocesan Review Board. Father Eric Tolentino, Chaplain, Reading Hospital and Medical Center, also to Chaplain, Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood at Precious Blood Convent, Reading. Vicars Forane Vicars Forane all with terms ending Dec. 31, 2019: Father Thomas Bortz, Berks Deanery Ṁsgr. John Chizmar, Carbon Deanery. Msgr. William Glosser, Schuylkill Deanery. Msgr. Stephen Radocha, Northampton Deanery. Msgr. Daniel Yenushosky, Lehigh Deanery. Council of Priests Reappointed members with terms ending Dec. 31, 2018: Father Donald Cieniewicz. Father John Gibbons. Father Richard James. Reappointed members with terms ending Dec. 31, 2019: Msgr. Robert Biszek. Father William Campion. Father Robert Finlan. Msgr. Thomas Koons. Father Keith Laskowski. Father David Loeper. Father Brian Miller. Father Anthony Mongiello. Msgr. Francis Nave. Fall 2017 Confirmation Schedule The diocesan Office of Divine Worship has announced the fall 2017 confirmation schedule as follows. All confirmations will begin at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3 St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring and St. Francis de Sales, Robesonia. Thursday, Oct. 5 St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland and St. Joseph, Frackville. Tuesday, Oct. 10 St. John Baptist de la Salle, Shillington and St. Benedict, Mohnton. Wednesday, Oct. 11 Divine Mercy, Shenandoah; St. Joseph, Sheppton; St. Mary, Ringtown; and St. Teresa of Calcutta, Mahanoy City. Thursday, Oct. 12 St. Margaret, Reading and St. Paul, Reading. Thursday, Oct. 19 Holy Guardian Angels, Reading and St. Joseph, Reading Ṫuesday, Oct. 24 Immaculate Conception BVM, Douglassville. Wednesday, Oct. 25 Sacred Heart, West Reading and Holy Rosary, Reading. Thursday, Oct. 26 St. Catharine of Siena, Reading. Wednesday, Nov. 15 Our Lady of Mercy, Easton and St. Anthony, Easton. Tuesday, Nov. 21 Most Blessed Sac- Father Eugene Ritz. College of Consultors Reappointed members all with terms expiring Dec. 31, 2018: Msgr. Joseph DeSantis. Father Andrew Gehringer. Msgr. William Glosser. Msgr. Gerald Gobitas. Msgr. David James. Msgr. John Murphy. Msgr. Stephen Radocha. Msgr. Francis Schoenauer. Msgr. Robert Wargo. Commission for Orders and Ministries Member with term of two years: Father Christopher Butera. Members with terms of three years: Msgr. William Glosser. Father Keith Laskowski. Father Anthony Mongiello. rament, Bally and St. Columbkill, Boyertown. Tuesday, Nov. 28 Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Roseto and Our Lady of Good Counsel, Bangor. Wednesday, Nov. 29 Sacred Heart, Bath. Thursday, Nov. 30 Sacred Heart, Palmerton; Assumption BVM, Slatington; and St. Nicholas, Walnutport. Tuesday, Dec. 5 St. Peter, Reading Ṫhursday, Dec. 7 Holy Family, Nazareth. Thursday, Dec. 14 Snow date. Special Collection for Hurricane Irma Relief For the second time in three weeks, a special collection will be taken up in the parishes of the of Allentown to benefit victims of a hurricane, this time those in Florida and the Caribbean impacted by Hurricane Irma. While special diocesan-wide collections are rarely taken up this close together, Msgr. David James, vicar general of the of Allentown, noted, The need is great because of the devastation and destruction of homes in the Caribbean islands and Florida. The collection will be taken up in the 84 parishes of the the weekend of Sept. 30-Oct. 1. The funds donated will be used in the affected areas to support humanitarian aid, assistance with long-term efforts to restore communities after widespread destruction, and for the pastoral and reconstruction needs of the Church in Florida and the Caribbean. The also suggested that special prayers for the victims of Hurricane Irma be offered at Masses. VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR The of Allentown provides assistance to anyone who, as a minor, was sexually abused by a priest, deacon or employee/volunteer of the /Parish Parents, guardians, children and survivors of sexual abuse are invited and encouraged to contact the of Allentown for more information about this program. The fullness of compassion should be extended to these victims by the Church. To speak directly to the Victim Assistance Coordinator, please call the direct line To learn more about the of Allentown s Youth Protection Programs, Sexual Abuse Policy and Code of Conduct, please visit and click on Youth Protection at top right. COORDINADOR DE ASISTENCIA A LAS VÍCTIMAS La Diócesis de Allentown provee asistencia a cualquier persona que, como menor de edad, fue abusado sexualmente por un sacerdote, diácono o empleado/voluntario de la Diócesis/Parroquia. Los padres, tutores, niños y los sobrevivientes de abuso sexual están invitados a contactar la Diócesis de Allentown para obtener más información sobre este programa. La plenitud de compasión debe extenderse a las víctimas por la Iglesia. Para hablar directamente con el coordinador de asistencia a las víctimas por favor llame a la línea directa Para obtener más información acerca de los Programas de Protección de la Juventud, Política de Abuso Sexual y el Código de Conducta de la Diócesis de Allentown, por favor visite y haga clic en Protección de la Juventud en la parte superior derecha.

3 September 21, 2017 The A.D. Times 3 With Praise and Thanks to Almighty God You Are Cordially Invited to Celebrate the Ordination and Installation of The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, D.D., J.C.L. as the Fifth Bishop of Allentown at Special Deanery Masses Being Celebrated throughout Our Thursday, the Twenty-First of September Saint Ignatius Loyola Saint Albans Drive and Whitfield Boulevard, Sinking Spring Seven o clock in the evening Monday, the Twenty-Fifth of September Saint Joseph 526 North Street, Jim Thorpe Seven o clock in the evening Monday, the Second of October Saint Clare of Assisi Mill and Hancock Streets, Saint Clair Seven o clock in the evening Wednesday, the Fourth of October Saint Francis of Assisi 1046 West Cedar Street, Allentown Seven o clock in the evening Please consult your parish bulletin for more information (If you are in need of an ASL interpreter please contact Sr. Janice Marie Johnson at jjohnson@allentowndiocese.org or x 2282 a week before the event.) Festival }}Continued from page 1 will provide youth entertainment. Delicious, homemade ethnic foods will be available for sale from Diocesan parishes kiffles, haluski (cabbage and noodles), tacos, empanadas, pierogies, apple dumplings and more. No reservations are needed. Just show up and bring your family or friends. For more information, call , cle@allentowndiocese.org or visit

4 4 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 Married Couples Honored for Nearly 6,000 Years of Marriage By TARA CONNOLLY Staff writer Paul and Monica Prudente, parishioners of Assumption BVM, Slatington, observed 50 years of marriage this year and want others to know it can be done. The Prudentes were one of 120 couples celebrating five, 25, 40, 50 or more years of marriage, at the Anniversary Mass Celebration at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown. Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert was the main celebrant and homilist at the annual celebration where couples renewed their marital vows and praised God for more than 6,000 years of the sacrament of marriage. The Prudentes, who raised three boys together, said marriage is not always easy but can be wonderful if a couple let s God in. You have to work together, you have to communicate and you have to pray together, said Monica. During their marriage, there were highs when they ushered children into the world and lows when Paul was away hunting Russian submarines with the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. You have to know yourself before you enter into marriage. You have to be mature because there are many unknowns, said Paul. As a couple, they decided to engage in prayer or offer the rosary together at some point in the day or week. There were times when we slipped away from praying together. Life was always better when we got back into the habit, said Paul. Their best advice to young married couples is to make a great effort to pray together and appreciate the simple things in life. It s worth it to pray together. You really do grow in love, said Monica. With their three sons grown and living on their own, the couple said life does not get lonely when the children leave home. We were blessed with children. Now we are able to relax and have more fun, said Monica. Above, Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert, left, congratulates Justine and Andrew Wesnak for celebrating 60 years of marriage. (Photos by John Simitz) Below, Married couples gather for the Anniversary Mass Celebration at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown. There is more room in the house even though they left a lot of their stuff behind, laughed Paul. The couple, who prefers not to travel a lot, said they spend their time together watching old television shows and movies, and spending time with friends. We like being together and that is important, said Monica. It doesn t take much to make us happy. As long as we are together life is great, said Paul. Bishop Schlert, who welcomed the Prudentes and all the couples to the cathedral, thanked the couples for being an example of married love to young people. Marriage lived in fidelity is a perfect example of Christ s love for his bride the Church, said Bishop Schlert. It s worth it to pray together. You really do grow in love. While reflecting on the day s Gospel (Matthew 18:21-35) The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Bishop Schlert pointed out three elements that relate to a successful marriage. Today s Gospel speaks about forgiveness, patience and gratitude. Those ingredients all need to be present in the sacrament of marriage, he said. The parable presents a king who called his servants for a day of accounting. One of them owed him an astronomical amount of money that the servant was unable to ever repay. Since the man could not pay the debt, the king ordered that he be sold, along with his wife, his children and all his possessions. When the servant heard the verdict, he begged the king for mercy and said Be patient with me and I will pay back everything. The king did show mercy, erased his debt and set him free. Later the servant encountered a fellow servant who owed him a much smaller debt and demanded payment. When the servant asked for patience and more time the first servant refused and the debtor was sent to jail. It is important for us to forgive one another. If we can t do that we will walk with heavy burdens. A successful marriage takes forgiveness. It needs patience, said Bishop Schlert. Patience is born out of love. It allows give and take in marriage. Without patience, couples go to their separate corners and don t speak, he said. Bishop Schlert also pointed out the lack of gratitude the servant displayed making him less human. When we don t possess gratitude, we are less dignifying, he said. The great sacrament of marriage is a source of gratitude. You have been called together to lead each other on the journey of life and to heaven. You reflect forgiveness, patience and gratitude. Your example shows us that the love of married life is possible even in a society that is often unfavorable of a marriage between one man and one woman. The longest married couples honored at the celebration were Joseph and Hilda Schedler and Francis and Isabelle Kercimar who both celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this year. In addition, 10 couples marked more than 60 years of marriage, and 26 couples observed their 60th wedding anniversary. Also honored at the celebration were four couples observing their 55th anniversary and Please see ANNIVERSARY page 5 }} Married couples renew their marital vows during the celebration. Above, married couples listen to the homily during the Mass. Left, Paul and Monica Prudente participate in the Anniversary Mass in observance of their 50 th wedding anniversary.

5 September 21, 2017 Anniversary }}Continued from page 4 42 couples observing 50 years of marriage. The Diocesan Office of Marriage and Natural Family Planning sponsors the annual celebration. Couples celebrating five, 25, 40, 50 and 60 or more years of marriage are invited. The A.D. Times 5 Above, presenting the offertory gifts are, from left, Julio and Paul Perez, and James and Diane McCawley. Left, Joseph and Hila Schedler participate in the Mass in celebration of 70 years of their marital union. Above, the Angelorum Choir sings a hymn during the celebration. Right, Bishop Schlert congratulates Robert and Mary Ann Sterner at the celebration recognizing their 60 th wedding anniversary. Share the Journey Campaign to be Launched by Pope Francis Sept. 27 On Wednesday, Sept. 27 Pope Francis will launch a global campaign to support immigrants and refugees around the world called Share the Journey. Our brothers and sisters often make perilous journeys, leaving their homelands because they are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict, poverty, persecution and violence. There are more refugees and internally displaced people now over 65 million than at any other time in recorded history. Our faith calls us to love our neighbor ; see Christ in those who are in greatest need; and welcome newcomers seeking the security, peace and opportunity they cannot find in their home countries. We can join Pope Francis and the Church around the world, and share the journey with fellow children of God by: * Learning about their journeys. Read stories, watch videos, and pay attention to news that can help sensitize us to their reality. Then, share what you learn with others by: * Joining the #sharejourney campaign on social media. * Meeting immigrants and refugees. Contact your local Catholic Charities agency to learn how you can join or support their programs that serve immigrants and refugees. * Saying a daily prayer for all people, and especially children, who have fled their homes in search of peace and safety. * Supporting the work of local and international Catholic agencies, like Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services, who help to care for the needs of immigrants and refugees in the United States and around the world. Learn more about and get involved in the Share the Journey global migration campaign at Courage and EnCourage Groups Persons with same-sex attraction have always been with us. There is now formal outreach from the Catholic Church in the way of support groups and information for such persons. The of Allentown conducts Courage group meetings monthly for those dealing with this issue. Does a member of your family have same-sex attraction? Are you having difficulty dealing with the issue? Encourage is a ministry of the Catholic Church giving faithful witness to Catholic teaching with compassion. Group meetings are held monthly in the of Allentown. For more information on Courage and EnCourage: or www. couragerc.org.

6 6 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 Bishop Schlert Welcomed at First of Five Deanery Masses Altar servers lead the procession at St. Jane, the home parish of Bishop Schlert. After 30 years in the priesthood, I would not give back one day not one even though they weren t all easy. It s a beautiful life, said Bishop Schlert. Altar servers are, from left, Peter McKeon, Nicholas Zambo, Anthony DeMasi and Brian Myers. Priests, deacons and faithful from the 21 parishes that comprise the Northampton Deanery listen to the homily during the Mass that welcomed Bishop Schlert as the new Bishop of Allentown. Bishop Schlert possesses the heart of a shepherd. We are greatly blessed. To him, we pledge our loyalty, support, fidelity and our continued prayers, said Msgr. Stephen Radocha, pastor of St. Jane. The Dominican Daughters of the Immaculate Mother participate in the Northampton Deanery Mass that drew an estimated 1,200 people to St. Jane. Encourage your sons and daughters to think about the religious life don t push them make it appear as a viable option, advised Bishop Schlert to parents. Members of the Combined Choir from parishes in the Northampton Deanery sing a hymn during Mass. More than 90 choir members joined together to perform musical selections at the first of five deanery Masses to be celebrated by Bishop Schlert. Deacon Gerald Schmidt, assigned to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown, incenses the Gospels before proclaiming the reading. I am grateful to my brother priests my collaborators. They are wonderful men. I am thankful for deacons, women religious and all of you, said Bishop Schlert while preaching the homily. Above, Bishop Schlert, back, stands with students of St. Jane Frances de Chantal School, Easton and Principal Marybeth Okula, right, after celebrating Mass. The Church needs your youthfulness, Bishop Schlert told the students. Right, parents and other members of the faithful snap photos of the newly ordained Bishop Schlert posing with children from parishes in the Northampton Deanery. The Church depends on our young people and each vocation you are called to make up the mosaic of the Church. In the Church, there is room for everyone and every vocation, said Bishop Schlert to the youth. More photos page 1

7 September 21, 2017 Worship The A.D. Times 7 Prayer Requests for Priests Please pray for our Holy Fathers, our bishops and these priests serving in the of Allentown during each designated date of October. 1 His Holiness Pope Francis 2 Pope Emeritus Benedict 3 Bishop Alfred Schlert 4 Bishop Emeritus Edward Cullen 5 Father Kenneth Medve 6 Father Brian Miller 7 Father Ronald Minner 8 Father Stanley Moczydlowski 9 Father Anthony Mongiello 10 Msgr. David Morrison 11 Father Joseph Muller 12 Father Michael Mullins 13 Msgr. Anthony Muntone 14 Father Elias Munyaneza 15 Deceased priests 16 Msgr. John Murphy 17 Msgr. Francis Nave 18 Father Anthony Nyari 19 Msgr. Edward O Connor 20 Permanent deacons 21 Father John O Neill 22 Father Richard O Nyamwaro 23 Msgr. Thomas Orsulak 24 Father Luigi Palmieri 25 Father Marian Paskowicz 26 Father John Paul 27 Father Gregory Pendergraft 28 Father John Pendzick 29 Father Dominic Pham 30 Father Quyet Pham 31 Father Alexander Pocetto Sunday Scripture Sunday, Sept th Sunday in Ordinary Time First reading Isaiah 55:6-9 Responsorial Psalm Psalms 145:2-3, 8-9, Second reading Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a Gospel Matthew 20:1-16a In Memoriam Please remember these clerics of the of Allentown in your prayers during October, the anniversary month of their death. 1 Father Rosario Sciarrone, Father Edward Foley, Father David Liebner, Father Michael Melley, Msgr. Bronislaus Sienkiewicz, Father Vincent Burke, Father Anthony Ricapito, Msgr. Joseph Karalius, Msgr. Stanislaus Gorak, 1984 Sunday, Oct th Sunday in Ordinary Time First reading Ezekiel 18:25-28 Responsorial Psalm Psalms 25:4-9 Second reading Philippians 2:1-11 Gospel Matthew 21: Msgr. Cornelius O Brien, Msgr. Anthony Molnar, Deacon Cyril Roth, Father John Nawn, Father Clarence Gregas, Deacon James Giltrap III, Msgr. Francis Dutko, Father Richard Kelly, Father James McDonald, Deacon John DeTurck, Msgr. James McHale, Deacon Lawrence Dudeck, Father John Pavlosky, Deacon William Ahrensfield, Father Joseph Murray, Msgr. Alfred Ott, 2014 Recommended to Your Prayers by Pope Francis Apostleship of Prayer Intention for October Workers and the Unemployed That all workers may receive respect and protection of their rights, and that the unemployed may receive the opportunity to contribute to the common good. The monthly intentions are also available on video, with a reflection or download the app at

8 8 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 Applications Now Available for Diocesan Poverty Relief Fund Grants The of Allentown is accepting grant applications for the Diocesan Poverty Relief Fund. Proceeds from the annual Diocesan collection are used to fund projects and services that alleviate or address poverty as approved by the Bishop of the. This year s collection will be the weekend of Nov Organizations within the of Allentown, including St. Vincent de Paul Societies, are encouraged to apply. Requests from individuals will not be considered. Projects must demonstrate appropriate use of funds, oversight and fidelity to Church teachings. Organizations that receive these funds must not participate in or promote activities that contradict the moral and social teachings of the Church. The active participation of Catholic pastors, parishes and other institutions is encouraged. The amount of funds collected will determine the number and amount of grants awarded. Grant requests cannot exceed $10,000. Applications must be completed and returned by Friday, Nov. 10 to receive a response by March 1, An electronic version of the guidelines and application is available at org/poverty-relief.. For more information, contact Robert Olney, Director of the diocesan Office of Marriage and Natural Family Planning, , ext Deaths Religious Sisters Sister Eloise Babula of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Third Order Regular of St. Francis died Sept. 2 at St. Joseph Villa, Reading, where she had resided since In the of Allentown she ministered at Sacred Heart, West Reading and St. Joseph Villa, Reading. During her ministry as a teacher, pharma- The 2017 Anthony Ruggiero Lecture on Catholic Education will take place Monday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in the DeSales University Center. Sponsored by the Salesian Center for Faith and Culture at DeSales, this event is free and open to the public. The title of this year s lecture is The Christian Vision of Sport and will feature Dr. William Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina. cist, office worker and driver she also served in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia. Surviving is a sister, Sister Robertine Babula of St. Joseph Villa, Reading Ṁass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 7 at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Reading, followed by burial in the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Cemetery, Mount Alvernia, Reading. Sister Mary Alma Joseph Miller, 90, a member of the Sisters of Mercy (RSM) Mid-Atlantic Community, died Sept. 3 at McAuley Convent, Merion. She served as an elementary school teacher for 45 years ministering in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon; and the s of Ruggiero Lecture on The Christian Vision of Sport Prior to his appointment to Belmont, Thierfelder successfully led and transitioned fitness legend York Barbell Company from a manufacturer to a solutions-based partner providing sales, marketing, product development and logistical services to mass merchants and major sporting goods retailers throughout the United States and Europe. He received his master s and doctoral degrees in sports psychology and human movement from Boston University. He is a licensed psychologist, a diplomate of the American Board of Psychological Specialties, a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and a past member of the U.S. Olympic Committee s Sport Psychology Registry. Initially begun to commemorate the canonization of St. Leonie de Sales Aviat, this series was renamed in 2005 Camden, New Jersey and Richmond, Virginia. In the of Allentown she taught fourth grade at St. John Baptist de la Salle, Shillington She also was a member of the support staff at Convent of Mercy, Merion and became a resident of McAuley Convent in Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 9 at Convent of Mercy, followed by burial at Sisters of Mercy Cemetery, Merion. in memory of Anthony Ruggiero, an adjunct faculty member who taught the philosophy of education and helped supervise the student teacher program at DeSales. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit or contact, Lore McFadden, director of programs, at , ext or lore.mcfadden@desales.edu.

9 September 21, 2017 Youth & Young Adults The A.D. Times 9 Challenges of Practicing Our Faith While Working in Secular World By TAMI QUIGLEY Staff writer Is it possible to grow in faith while working in a secular career? The answer is yes, according to Robert Wert, featured speaker of Faith on the Job: Maintaining Values in the Workplace, which kicked off the fall season of Theology on Tap Sept. 18 at Viva Bistro and Lounge, Wyomissing. Does his faith play a role in his professional life? Wert s answer is a definite yes, saying it plays a role every day. I put service to others as my primary motivating factor. Wert is managing director of investments at Wert Investment Consulting Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Wyomissing and coordinator of the Berks Traditional Latin Mass Community. The diocesan Office of Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry (OYYAFM) sponsored the evening, which wrapped up with a question-and-answer session. Alexa Doncescz, assistant director of OYYAFM, welcomed those gathered. Theology on Tap is a young adult speaker series sponsored by OYYAFM for married and single young adults, scheduled for the third Monday of every month at various locations in the. It is designed to allow young adults to come together in a comfortable and relaxed setting to share community, learn more about their faith and discuss faith topics relevant to their life experiences. It originated in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois. Wert has been with Wells Fargo Advisors and its predecessor companies for Robert Wert makes a point during the evening event sponsored by the diocesan Office of Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry. Alexa Doncescz, left, chats with Robert Wert and his daughter Claudia at the Theology on Tap session Faith on the Job: Maintaining Values in the Workplace Sept. 18 at Viva Bistro and Lounge, Wyomissing. (Photos by John Simitz) more than 30 years. He is a Premier Advisor, Directors Council Level. Wert founded the Wert Investment Consulting Group of Wells Fargo Advisors to provide a high level of service to a small number of clients. The group works with families, companies and notfor-profit organizations. Wert s activities include serving on the investment committee of the of Allentown; hosting Berks Business on Berks Community Television, Comcast channel 15; and hosting the Charitable Leaders Lecture Series. Wert and his wife Mary have three children and reside in Lower Heidelberg Township. They are parishioners of St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring. Mary and their daughter Claudia, who works with her father, attended the Theology on Tap session. Wert s interest in a career in finance stretches back to childhood, as he started reading the stock pages and was fascinated by dividends at age 7. That interest spurred him to earn a bachelor s degree in business administration from Penn State Harrisburg and a master of business administration in finance from the University of Chicago, and complete the Securities Industry Institute sponsored by the Securities Industry Institute at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Wert joined Butcher and Singer in 1985, and after a number of company name changes remains with the company that is now Wells Fargo, the third largest brokerage firm in the country, he said. Of charitable giving, Wert noted many companies in Lehigh and Berks counties are generous to the of Allentown. We align investments with goals, Wert said, adding it s important for a person s financial planner to coordinate with the person s accountants and attorneys. Wert said he and his wife taught marriage preparation in the for eight years, and a big part of that was handling money, Wert said, noting it s challenging for young couples to navigate finances. There s a happy medium between being a miser and a spendthrift, and couples just have to find it. Wert advised putting 10 percent in savings where it will grow, and giving 10 percent to the Church. Of his involvement with the Berks County Traditional Latin Mass Community, Wert said the Traditional Latin Mass also known as the extraordinary form of the Mass and Tridentine Mass is authentic, reverent and beautiful. There are many young people involved, Wert said, adding they have a hunger for the reverent liturgy. You really feel part of a 2,000-year-old Church that is young. When you see the priest in the older, classic, traditional vestments, he s celebrating with you the reverence toward our Lord. We want our God to inspire and awe. Wert said he appreciates Father Edward Connolly, pastor emeritus of St. Joseph and St. Vincent, Girardville, for his role with the Traditional Latin Mass Community. The Latin Mass that s the charism that works for us, Wert said, adding there are numerous communities in the and region. Wert said their son, George, 16, wants to be a priest. The family reads the Catechism of the Catholic Church most nights, with Wert explaining, Take 10 minutes a night and you ll have a good understanding of the faith. We don t read it cover to cover, we skip around, find something that interests us and build on it. The Werts attend Mass at least weekly, have daily prayers in the morning and evening as a family, and almost always have dinner together as a family. Bob is a true Catholic leader in our family, Mary said. Wert also advised joining small faithsharing groups. For example, he s a member of a Traditional Latin Mass men s group. It s good to be with others who are on the same page and bounce ideas off each other. Of his professional life, Wert shared his philosophy of Do well by doing good. Good reputation is the key to growth. We work with many faith-based clients and community organizations, and I enjoy working with them and funding their mission, Wert said. There are challenges to being a practicing Catholic in an increasingly secular world. Socially responsible investing means different things to different people, Wert said, noting for example some people want to support the same things as the Church. Other clients sometimes are dealing with substance abuse. Money itself is neither good nor evil. Like any other tool, it s what you do with it. It can fund your family or a drug habit, Wert said. Do well by doing good. Good reputation is the key to growth. Regarding investment opportunities, Wert said some technology is wonderful and some is scary, such as genetic engineering, and he avoids such opportunities. There s also the yield to client versus the yield to advisor and the pressure to perform. Some investments have a higher yield to the advisor than the client, he said. If you have to go to confession, it stops you from doing a lot of stupid stuff, Wert said with a smile. Theology on Tap events are free of charge. Food and beverage can be ordered from the menu at the event site. For more information, visit or adoncsecz@ allentowndiocese.org. Robert Wert, center discusses growing your faith while working in a secular career. Claudia Wert, left, is among those listening to her dad s informative presentation.

10 10 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 Lord, To Whom Shall We Go? of Allentown Announces Spirit 2017 Men s Conference The of Allentown will hold its annual men s conference again this year on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at DeSales University, Center Valley. Keynote speakers for the conference titled Lord, To Whom Shall We Go will be Bishop Nelson Perez, Deacon Ramon Lima, Peter Herbeck, Father Stan Fortuna, Marty Rotella and Father Bernard Ezaki. Members of the Commission for Men serve on the Planning Committee. Stewardship: A Mission of Faith is also a conference sponsor. Men will also have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and conclude the day with Mass with Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert. Early registration fee is $30 before Monday, Sept. 25. The regular fee will be $40 from Tuesday, Sept. 26 through Monday, Oct. 23. There is a special rate of $10 for all men attending Spanish sessions, as well as young men in high school or of college age. Registration includes continental breakfast and lunch. To register, visit For questions, call , ext Workshop for Teaching Time Management to Children With/Without Disabilities Directors/coordinators of religious education, principals, teachers, catechists and parents of children with disabilities are invited to save the date for a workshop on Strategies for Teaching Time Management to Children With/Without Disabilities. The event will be Saturday, Oct. 14 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at McGlinn Conference and Spirituality Center, 460 St. Bernardine St., Reading. Registration will be at 9 a.m. Speakers will be Dr. Caroline DiPipi- Hoy and Dr. Daniel Steere, authors of the book Teaching Time Management to What are the messages of Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Fatima? What do the messages of Divine Mercy and Fatima have to do with each other? These questions and more will be discussed during Faith and Spirits Tuesday, Oct. 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Vito s Coal-Fired Pizza and Restaurant, 400 Terry Rich Blvd., St. Clair. The informal discussion Divine Mercy and 100 Years of Fatima will be presented from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. by Father Rick James. He will explore what the message of Fatima and Divine Mercy have to do with us today. The diocesan Office of Adult Forma- Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The workshop is being sponsored by the diocesan Office for Ministry with Persons with Disabilities. Accommodations for the workshop can include American Sign Language, Assisted Listening Device and Braille Material. ACT 48 credits are available. Certified teachers may sign up on CPE Tracker. For more information, contact Sister Janice Marie Johnson, director, at , ext or jjohnson@allentowndiocese.org. Faith and Spirits in St. Clair to Discuss Divine Mercy and Fatima tion is offering the discussion. All adults are welcome. Bring a friend or come yourself. There is no charge for attending and no registration is required. Vito s will have menus available for ordering food and drink at participants expense. No registration is required, just show up and bring a friend. Seating is first-come, firstserved. For questions or more information, visit or contact the Office of Adult Formation by adultformation@ allentowndiocese.org or call , ext

11 September 21, 2017 The annual Red Mass sponsored by the St. Thomas More Society of the of Allentown will be celebrated Sunday, Oct. 8 at noon at St. Catharine of Siena Church, 4975 Boyertown Pike, Reading. The Mass is open to the public and will be followed by a reception in the parish center. Guest homilist will be Bishop Emeritus William Murphy of the of Rockville Centre, New York. Bishop Murphy was consecrated auxiliary bishop of Boston, Massachusetts Dec. 27, 1995, and installed as Fourth Bishop of Rockville Centre Sept. 5, Pope Francis accepted his resignation Dec. 9, 2016 when then-bishop of Allentown John Barres was appointed Fifth Bishop of Rockville Centre. Bishop Murphy has served several times as a member of a Holy See Delegation for United Nations conferences, and as a member of the Third United Nations Special Session on Disarmament in He has been a member of three presidential delegations to Haiti (1987, 1990 and 1991), and was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom by President George W. Bush in He has served on and chaired a number of committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to serve as a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. The tradition of the Red Mass dates back to the 13 th century. It is a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit that invokes divine blessings on all those involved in the pursuit of justice especially judges, lawyers and elected officials. It is named for the red vestments worn by clerics and the red shoes worn by the judges of the High Court in England. The society, begun in 2010, is a Catholic professional association that promotes the mutual interaction of faith and culture in the realm of law and public policy. Its work is inspired by the life and The A.D. Times 11 St. Thomas More Society to Celebrate Red Mass Oct. 8 Bishop Murphy legacy of St. Thomas More ( ), patron saint of statesmen, politicians and lawyers. He models a fidelity to the faith grounded in the search for truth, the dignity of the person, the unity of the family and the justice of civil society. For more information about the Mass, or for judges and attorneys interested in joining or learning more about the society, visit website org or allentownstms@gmail.com. A Call Within a Call: Finding God s Will in the Mundane We all make hundreds of decisions every day, large and small; how do you know what God s will is in those decisions? Join the Office of Adult Formation Thursday, Oct. 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. at McGlinn Conference and Spirituality Center, Reading (adjacent to Alvernia University) for A Call Within a Call: Finding God s Will in the Mundane. Jesuit Father Frank Kaminski will help participants uncover the mystery of finding God s will in our everyday lives and decisions. This event is free of charge, but participants are asked to register at www. allentowndiocese.org/aff. For questions, contact the Office of Adult Formation, adultformation@allentowndiocese.org or , ext

12 12 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 Institute for Catechesis and Formation Offering Fall Courses The Diocesan Institute for Catechesis and Formation (ICF) is offering the following courses for the fall. ICF courses are meant for any Catholic adult looking to grow deeper and learn more about the faith. There are no prerequisites. Cost is $30. To register, visit Cursos ICF son para cualquier adulto católico que buscan profundizar y aprender más sobre la fe. No hay requisitos previos para estos cursos. Costo: $30. Para registrarse visite ICF 101 Christian Anthropology. What does it mean to be human? This course will examine who God is as the One who seeks to share himself with his creation. A brief survey of Salvation History will be traced to Jesus Christ, the Redeemer who saves humanity, and teaches us what it means to be a human person. Presented by Father Eric Gruber 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 12 and 19 at Bethlehem Catholic High School. ICF 102 The Old Testament. The Bible is God s revelation of himself to his creation, and the story of his love for us. This course will provide a brief intro- Mi Amigo Jesús Por PAULINO TEJADA, MD Todos los católicos que han sido bautizados reconocen que Jesús viene del Padre y que sólo en Él hay salvación. Y es por el hecho de que Él, por ser Dios y hombre, merece de nosotros adoración y obediencia. Sería lógico pensar que nuestra relación con Jesús debe ser al estilo de un imaginario Dios mitológico, que es todopoderoso, que ordena al hombre y decide su destino sin contar con él. Pero no; los evangelios nos enseñan a un Dios amoroso, misericordioso que no quiere que el hombre le siga y le sirva por miedo, sino por amor. Pero el tipo de relación que Jesús quiere tener con nosotros va más allá de la simple relación de Dios-hombre. En el evangelio de San Juan, capítulo 15, versículo 15 nos dice: Ya no los llamo siervos, porque el siervo no sabe lo que hace su amo; los llamo mis amigos, porque les he dado a conocer todo lo que he oído de mi Padre. Jesús quiere que tú y yo nos relacionemos con Él de la misma manera que lo hacemos con un buen amigo; pero no cualquier amigo, pues Él es al mismo tiempo tu salvador. Por lo general nosotros escogemos a nuestros amigos basados en ciertos criterios puramente humanos. Por ejemplo, con quien me llevo mejor, en quien confío, con quien he establecido una amistad de confianza a través del tiempo, quien me ha mostrado lealtad, etc. Pero la amistad que Jesús nos ofrece es una amistad incondicional, no basada en criterios humanos. Él quiere que seas su amigo, porque reconoce que tú eres criatura creada por Dios Padre, y él quiere salvarte. Jesús es un amigo que no elegimos. Él nos elige y nos llama a tener una amistad cercana. En el evangelio de San Juan, Capítulo 15, versículo 16, Él nos dice: Ustedes no me eligieron a mí, sino que yo los elegí a ustedes, y los designé para que vayan a dar frutos, y que sus frutos permanezcan. Es decir que cuando aceptamos esa relación de amistad con Jesús, nuestra vida cambia, crecemos espiritualmente, y damos frutos que los demás pueden evidenciar. La amistad cercana con Jesús, nos convierte en testigos de su amor y del Reino de Dios. Sabemos que el valor de una amistad se prueba en los momentos difíciles, y es en esos momentos que le preguntamos a un amigo: que estarías dispuesto a hacer por mí? Te diré lo que Jesús hizo por todo nosotros a quien Él llama sus amigos; El dio su vida en la cruz. Pues como Él mismo dijo: No hay amor más grande que el dar la vida por los amigos (Juan 15:13). Este tipo de relación que te ofrece Jesús implica mucho amor, sacrificio y entrega. El que ofreció voluntariamente su vida en la cruz por sus amigos, es el mismo que tiene el poder de salvarte, y el mismo que se sigue entregando en el sacrificio del altar, en cada eucaristía entrega su cuerpo y su sangre. Sin lugar a dudas, la amistad con Jesús es relación productiva, nos permite dar frutos aquí en la tierra, pero más que nada, nos da la certeza que podemos estar donde nuestro querido amigo está. Jesús está en el cielo, y nos promete en su palabra que si somos sus amigos, estaremos con Él. En Juan 14, 3 nos dice: Y si me voy y preparo un lugar para ustedes, volveré otra vez y los llevaré conmigo, para que donde yo esté, también estén ustedes. Cuando conocemos íntimamente a nuestro amigo Jesús, nos damos cuenta de que sólo Él importa, y nosotros comenzamos a ser recíprocos con él. Comenzamos a darle nuestro amor incondicional, duction to the origin of Sacred Scripture: its source, how the canon was formed and the senses in which we can interpret Scripture. The remainder of the course will focus on the Old Testament: the creation of the earth and God s covenant of love with the human person, the fall into sin and the revelation, over time, of God s plan of salvation. Presented by Deacon Rick Lanciano from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11 and 18 at Berks Catholic High School, Reading. ICF 105 Christian Morality. Learn not just the what, but the why, of the Church s moral teachings. Participants will examine virtue, conscience formation and make application to contemporary moral issues in the areas of health care, sexuality and social justice. Presented by Father Eric Gruber from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25 at Bethlehem Catholic High School. ICF 105 La Moralidad Cristiana. Aprende no sólo el qué, sino el porqué, de las enseñanzas morales de la Iglesia. Los participantes examinarán la virtud, la formación de la conciencia y la aplicación a las cuestiones morales contemporáneas en las áreas de salud, sexualidad y justicia social. Este curso es ofrecido por la Oficina de Formación de Adultos a través del Instituto de Catequesis y Formación y presentado por el Padre George Winne y está programado de 7-9 p.m. los martes, 26 Septiembre and 3, 17 y 24 de Octubre en el Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Allentown. ICF 201 Prayer and Spirituality. Deepen your relationship with Christ by learning the fundamentals of a Catholic prayer life and spiritual dispositions. Participants will examine what it means to pray, why we pray and how to have a fruitful prayer life. Practical exercises of traditional Catholic prayers and devotions will be covered. Presented by Father Ronald Minner from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 26, Oct. 3, 10 and 17 at Marian High School, Tamaqua. ICF 104 The Sacraments. The sacraments are intimate, personal encounters between God and his people. This course will present an overview of these signs of God s love for us, by which he makes a personal connection with us and conveys grace his very life within us. Presented by Father Daniel Kravatz from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 16, 23, 30 and Nov. 6 at Bethlehem Catholic High School. lo amamos en los momentos difíciles, y le damos gracias por su amistad en los momentos de felicidad. Nos convertimos en sus amigos, y anhelamos su amistad más que a nosotros mismos o a nuestras propias vidas. Los apóstoles entendieron este tipo de relación, por eso fueron mártires, a los cuales no les importó dar la vida por Jesús. Este tipo de amistad recíproca con Jesús no es cosa del pasado; hoy en día hay cristianos en todo el mundo dando su vida por el simple hecho de ser amigos de Jesús. Dios en su amor y misericordia quiere salvarte, por eso te llama a una relación cercana con Jesús. Él es tu amigo. Acepta su amistad. Amalo incondicionalmente, entrega tu vida a Él y verás cómo es el amigo fiel. Puedo asegurarte con toda certeza que Jesús es tu amigo, que nunca te defraudará. Haz la prueba y acepta su amistad, y verás la gloria de Dios manifestarse en la persona de Cristo Jesús. Amén.

13 September 21, 2017 By TARA CONNOLLY Staff writer Shower of the Roses to Honor The Little Flower Oct. 1 The A.D. Times 13 A spiritual tradition that began in 1932 under the guidance of Msgr. Agnello Angelini, pastor of the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Nesquehoning, is set to drop flowers from the sky during its celebration Sunday, Oct. 1. In commemoration of the feast of Therese, The Little Flower, the Shrine of St. Therese of Lisieux, Nesquehoning will honor the saint known for doing ordinary things with extraordinary love with its annual Shower of the Roses. The celebration will begin at 1 p.m. with Mass celebrated by Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert, who will crown the Rose Queen during the Eucharistic Celebration. Procession of the Rose Queen and her court will take place at 3 p.m., with recitation of the rosary. Novena and Benediction will be at 4 p.m., with presentation of Rose Queen The Little Flower dressed in a Carmelite habit. At 5 p.m. the celebration will culminate with Letting fall from heaven a shower of roses, with a helicopter showering the crowd with hundreds of roses. Sheree Strauss, director of the St. Therese is known for finding God s love in our everyday interactions, and that love fills the air on her feast day. shrine, said the celebration began as a regional Italian festival and continues to be a popular devotion as hundreds of faithful from the tristate area are expected to visit the shrine and grotto. It is a beautiful celebration of love and devotion to The Little Flower. To partake and witness the deep spiritual commitment of the pilgrims is truly emotionally moving and spiritually fulfilling. St. Therese is known for finding God s love in our everyday interactions, and that love fills the air on her feast day, said Strauss. Father Allen Hoffa, back, rector of the Shrine of St. Therese of Lisieux, welcomes the 2017 Rose Queen Court who will be part of the Shower of the Roses devotion, from left: front, Reagan LeClair, Giovanna Larry, Amelia Rose Degler, Caitlyn Kovatch, Cara Rehnert, Marie Petschauer, Esme Petschauer, and Isabella D Ancona; middle, Carly Bachert, 2017 Rose Queen Courtney Kovatch, Maria Cerimele and Gabriella Rose Greek. With weather permitting, Strauss said seeing the sky fill up with flowers and faithful hoping to catch a rose is also particularly moving. It is seen as a special blessing for those lucky enough to catch one, she said. For many years, Strauss said the Rose Queen would board the helicopter to help release the roses, and a flyover of Navy jet planes was part of one celebration. Thousands of people would run to catch a rose falling from the sky. People would even climb on the rooftops of homes to acquire a blessed rose, she said. After the closure of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 2008, then Bishop of Allentown John Barres bolstered the devotion to St. Therese in 2010, by declaring the former church the Shrine of St. Therese of Lisieux. The shrine, located at 15 E. Garibaldi Ave., Nesquehoning, is part of the parish of St. Joseph, Summit Hill. The 2017 Rose Queen is Courtney Kovatch, who will be accompanied by her court of high school Rose Princesses: Carly Bachert, Maria Cerimele and Gabriella Rose Greek. The court will also include elementary girls on the Little Flower Rose Court: Isabella D Ancona, Amelia Rose Degler, Caitlyn Kovatch, Giovanna Larry, Reagan LeClair, Marie Petschauer, Esme Petschauer and Cara Rehnert. The celebration will also offer ethnic food and a spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information: , littleflowerassociation@gmail.com and Facebook Shrine of Saint Therese. It pays to advertise in The A.D. Times Contact Lori Anderson at landerson@allentowndiocese.org or extension 273

14 14 The A.D. Times September 21, First Day of School in the of Allentown Above, happy to be back at Berks Catholic High School, Reading are, from left, Katie Morelli, Keba Mitchell, Liza Miller and Ethan Ha. Right, Berks Catholic High School, Reading sophomore Joe Bell heads home after a full first day. The third grade class at St. Ambrose School, Schuylkill Haven created dog toys for animals displaced by Hurricane Harvey. Showing their toys are, from left, Jacob Swartz, Olivia Lesher and Evan Schimpf. Third-grader Kaitlyn Purin walks her brother, James Purin, to his kindergarten class at St. Jerome Regional School, Tamaqua. Left, student Jacob Tran arrives and makes his way to his classroom at John Paul II Center for Special Learning, Shillington. Amy Hannis-Miskar, principal of St. Jerome Regional School, Tamaqua, welcomes students on the first day back to school with Father Allen Hoffa, administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Summit Hill. Left, fourth-graders enjoying recess on the first day of school at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Bethlehem are, from left, Evelyn Hersh, Samantha Karwacki, Bianca Cooper, Louisa Robinson, Camila Nieto, Emily Kraska and Nia Hunt. More photos page 16 Right, the school mascot (Riley Horoshko) of St. Ann School, Emmaus greets eighth-grader Jacob Lynds and kindergartener Rylie Yetter. Above, Jailys Montalvo enjoys her time on the playground during recess at John Paul II Center for Special Learning, Shillington. Left, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Bethlehem prays a decade of the rosary for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Looking forward to the first day are students of Mercy School for Special Learning, Allentown, from left, Jolie Sessoms, Jordan Sessoms, Christopher Sessoms and Lea Sessoms, with teachers Kim Rompilla, left, and Julia Tomcics. Sharing a smile on the first day at Mercy School for Special Learning, Allentown are, from left, teacher Jayne Serino, student Adriana Newhard and parent Briana Bolesky-Azar. Julia Klembara, left, and Emily Flanagan, seniors at Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville, stop for a photo at the school s opening week picnic, where students are treated to a cook-out provided by faculty, staff and administration, and club signups are held.

15 16 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 First Day of School in the of Allentown Left, Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville juniors Quandre Latimer, left, and Torin Shellhammer work on a lab experiment during chemistry class on the first day of school. Right, Deacon Thomas Murphy, principal of St. Francis Academy, Bally, greets students, from left, Olivia Kauffman, Santino Fraschilla, Christianna Fraschilla and Francesca Fraschilla on the first day of classes. Below left, students, from left, Charles Hall, Derick Carlile and Jakub Furniss wait to enter St. Francis Academy, Bally kindergarten with their teacher Jaclyn Youse. St. Francis Academy, Bally students receive their religion books in a special ceremony at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Bally. First-graders hold their books, which were blessed by their principal, Deacon Thomas Murphy, back right. Left, sisters Fiona and Faith Sedicum enter St. Michael the Archangel School, Coopersburg to start the new school year. More photos pages A group of students gather outside on the first day at Notre Dame High School, Easton.

16 September 21, 2017 By TARA CONNOLLY Staff writer School Sisters of St. Francis of Monocacy Manor, Bethlehem will host the second annual Monocacy Farm Food Festival, a family-friendly event for the whole community. The festival will feature local food and craft artisans, fun children s activities, tractor demonstrations, face painting, environmentally friendly toys with Bob Swaim, farm tours, an onsite open house with early childhood education experts Lehigh Valley Children s Centers, beekeeping information and more. The first 100 individuals/families will receive a free bag of goodies. The festival will be Sunday, Oct. 1 (rain date Sunday, Oct. 8) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 395 Bridle Path Road, Bethlehem. For entry, a donation of $5 per person or $10 per family is suggested. Free parking is available. All proceeds benefit The Monocacy Farm Project. The project uses land and resources at Monocacy Manor in the Franciscan tradition to model stewardship and care of the earth, foster community involvement, provide educational opportunities, and serve the needs of the poor. The farm project: provides area residents and low-income families access to affordable organic produce; supplies local shelters, food pantries and soup kitchens with donor-sponsored organic produce during the spring and summer growing seasons; provides educational programs to youth and adults; and provides interns and volunteers hands-on experience in organic gardening and farming. For more information, visit There is a great need for scholarships throughout the five counties in the. Our hope is to educate families and businesses that they can redirect a substantial portion of their tax dollars from Harrisburg to our schools. The A.D. Times 17 Special Purpose Entities Program Created to Increase Scholarships for Catholic Schools in of Allentown Another program through the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholarship Foundation (EPSF) is allowing donors to turn their Pennsylvania tax liability into needbased scholarships for families within the of Allentown who desire to send their children to Catholic school. The program, often referred to as Special Purpose Entities (SPE), offers donors the opportunity to join the program through a consecutive two-year commitment. The individual makes a donation in each of the two years and becomes a member of an EPSF Scholarship, LLC. EPSF Scholarship, LLC then receives a tax credit equal to 90 percent of the accumulated donations and passes the tax credit back to its members. The program joins the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs that award tax credits to operating businesses that make contributions to EPSF. For years, our scholarship organization, EPSF, has worked with of Allentown school communities to solicit and administer donations from businesses who participated in Pennsylvania s EITC/ OSTC program, said John Bakey, chancellor for Catholic education. What is new is that EPSF has formed Special Purpose Entities, which now allow qualified individuals who have a Pennsylvania state tax liability to also participate. This will expand our scholarship program in order to bring the gift of Catholic education to more students and families who need financial assistance. The Secretariat for Catholic Education launched the new SPE program Sept. 12 at Lehigh Country Club, Allentown and Sept. 14 at Berkshire Country Club, Reading. One hurdle that still needs to be cleared is for the EPSF Scholarship, Limited Liability (LLC) to receive approval of its application to the state for available tax credits. The application is pending with a possibility of state rejection due to limited state funding. Therefore, scholarship donations for the SPE program will be collected only if state tax credits are approved. According to Bakey, prospective donors must be accredited investors and meet certain financial credentials, such as having individual annual income of $200,000 or $300,000 of joint income in the recent two years. In addition, there is a minimum member contribution of $5,000 for each of the two years. After the EPSF Scholarship, LLC receives tax credit for all the contributions, it issues forms for the donors to receive their proportionate share of the tax credit when filing their income tax returns. For example, a $10,000 donation would yield a $9,000 tax credit. For a net cost of $1,000, a donor can generate $10,000 of scholarship money. Pending state approval this year, we Catholic school students enjoy their education at one of the 42 schools operated by the of Allentown. A new tax credit program, Special Purpose Entities, will potentially increase scholarship funding for families in financial need. are hopeful SPE will generate an estimated $1 million dollars over the next two years, he said. There is a great need for scholarships throughout the five counties in the. Our hope is to educate families and businesses that they can redirect a substantial portion of their tax dollars from Harisburg to our schools, said Bakey. In the event a donor does not meet the SPE criteria, there are other ways for donors to provide scholarships for Diocesan schools. EPSF works with the Catholic Foundation, which has several scholarship endowment funds, like the Latino scholarship endowment. A business owner who pays Pennsylvania state taxes can participate directly in either the EITC or OSTC program. For a two-year commitment a business can receive a 90 percent tax credit, and for a one-year commitment a business can receive a 75 percent tax credit, up to a maximum credit of $750,000. Every dollar received by EPSF from area businesses or the newly created SPE is awarded to students attending Catholic elementary, secondary and preschools in the. Since 2001, EPSF has awarded $20.8 million to Diocesan schools for scholarships. A total of 32,700 scholarships have been awarded to students attending the elementary, secondary, special needs and prekindergarten schools in the. Families Invited to Annual Monocacy Farm Food Festival

17 18 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 Robert Wright of Reading Attends Serra Convention as Delegate Serra International held its 75 th Annual Convention in Rome, Italy June Robert Wright, a member of the Serra Club of Reading, served as a delegate to the convention. Wright is a past president of Serra International and a past president of the Serra International Foundation Board. He and his wife, Kitty, who accompanied him, are parishioners of St. Catharine of Siena Parish, Reading. Over 600 Serrans from Italy, the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Australia, India, Nigeria, Great Britain, Thailand and Brazil traveled to Rome for the convention. Serra International is the only lay organization aggregated to the Congregation for the Clergy. It is an organization of laymen and laywomen whose objectives are to promote and support vocations to the ministerial priesthood and the consecrated religious life, and to foster the members to grow in holiness. The Convention Coordination Committee organized a powerful program of diverse speakers and liturgies. All the talks were translated into the four official languages of Serra made available in real time by headset English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. A recurring theme in the talks provided at the convention centered on the renewal of Serran programming and membership. It is no secret that Serra s ranks could enjoy more age diversity, allowing not only an influx of fresh ideas, but also ensuring the organization s longevity. Robert Wright is greeted by Pope Francis during the Serra International Convention. The main speakers of the convention were: Chainarong Monthienvichienchai on The Courage of Vocation, Sister Maria Gloria Riva on Saying Yes Through Art, Bishop Jorge Carlos Patron Wong on Always Ahead: The Trust of Vocations, Andrea Tornielli on Proximity and Dialogue: Pope Francis as Seen Through His Travels and Dante Vannini on the State of Serra. There also were workshops, meetings of the Serra International Board and the Serra International Foundation Board, and reports from Serra Councils from around the world. The delegates meeting centered on the business affairs of Serra International executive director s report, treasurer s report, approval of the budget and election of the new board. Dan Jones of the Serra Club of Portland, Oregon will serve as international president for Convention attendees gathered Saturday to pray Serra s Global Monthly Rosary for Vocations, which takes place live via conference call or smart device the last Saturday of every month. For June 24 Serrans from around the globe were invited to join the prayer broadcast live from the convention in five languages: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English and Thai. It was a remarkable opportunity to experience the true internationality of our organization, whether you were at the convention or calling in from thousands of miles away. The highlight of the convention was an audience with His Holiness, Pope Francis. The members of Serra attended Mass Friday morning in the Holy Spirit Chapel of the Basilica of St. Peter. Celebrant was Cardinal Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation of the Clergy. After the Mass the Serrans gathered for a private audience with Pope Francis. Pope Francis addressed the Serrans and then greeted some of the members of the group. Pope Francis Address to the Serrans To be friends to priests, sustaining their vocation and accompanying them in their ministry: with this great gift you enrich the Church. This is, above all else, what a Serran is a special friend whom the Lord has brought into the lives of seminarians and priests. Today the word friend has become a bit overused. In our daily lives, we run into various people whom we call friends, but that is just a word we say. Within virtual communications, friend is one of the most frequently found words. Yet we know that superficial knowledge has little to do with that experience of encounter or closeness evoked by the word friend. When Jesus speaks of his friends he points to a hard truth: true friendship involves an encounter that draws me so near to the other person that I give something of my very self. Jesus says to his disciples: No longer do I call you servants but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you (John 15:15). He thus establishes a new relationship between man and God, one that transcends the law and is grounded in trust and love. At the same time, Jesus frees friendship from sentimentalism and presents it to us as a responsibility that embraces our entire life: Greater love has no man than What is Serra? this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). We become friends, then, only if our encounter is more than something outward or formal, and becomes instead a way of sharing in the life of another person, an experience of compassion, a relationship that involves giving ourselves for others. It is good for us to reflect on what friends do. They stand at our side, gently and tenderly, along our journey; they listen to us closely, and can see beyond mere words; they are merciful when faced with our faults; they are nonjudgmental. They are able to walk with us, helping us to feel joy in knowing that we are not alone. They do not always indulge us but, precisely because they love us, they honestly tell us when they disagree. They are there to pick us up whenever we fall. This is also the kind of friendship that you seek to offer to priests. The Serra Club helps foster this beautiful vocation of being laity who are friends to priests. Friends who know how to accompany and sustain them in faith, in fidelity to prayer and apostolic commitment. Friends who share the wonder of a vocation, the courage of a definitive decision, the joy and fatigue of ministry. Friends who can offer priests support Serra is a nonprofit Catholic organization made up of laymen and laywomen who pray and work to foster and promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood and consecrated religious life. Its name is derived from Blessed Father Junípero Serra, a Franciscan missionary priest who established many missions in California in the late 1700s through his evangelization, and was canonized by Pope Francis Sept. 23, Serra Clubs in the of Allentown and their contacts: Allentown Robert Conner, Bethlehem Gus Heidecker, , gheidecker@rcn.com. Carbon/Schuylkill Serra Club Mary Marzen, , marymarzen@ gmail.com. Forks of the Delaware (Easton area) Louise Cardell, Reading John McGee, and regard their generous efforts and human failings with understanding and tender love. In this way, you are to priests like the home of Bethany, where Jesus entrusted his weariness to Martha and Mary, and, thanks to their care, was able to find rest and refreshment. There is another phrase that describes you. You chose it for the theme of this convention: Siempre Adelante. Keep moving forward. Like you, I believe that this is a synonym for the Christian vocation. For the life of every missionary disciple bears the impress of his or her vocation. The voice of the Lord invites his disciples to leave the safety of their homeland and to begin the holy journey toward the promised land of encounter with him and with our brothers and sisters. Vocation is an invitation to go forth from ourselves, to rejoice in our relationship with the Lord and to journey along the ways that he opens up before us. Of course, we cannot make progress unless we take a risk. We do not advance toward the goal if, as the Gospel says, we are afraid to lose our lives (cf. Matthew 16:25-26). No ship would ever set out into the deep if it feared leaving the safety of the harbour. So too, Christians cannot enter into the transforming experience of God s love unless they are open to new possibilities, and not tied to their own plans and cherished ways of doing things. Pastoral structures can fall into this same temptation, being concerned more with selfpreservation than with adapting themselves to the service of the Gospel. On the other hand, when Christians go about their daily lives without fear, they can discover God s constant surprises. They need but have the courage to dare, not to let fear stifle their creativity, not to be suspicious of new things, but instead to embrace the challenges the Spirit sets before them, even when this means changing plans and charting a different course. We can take as our inspiration St. Junípero, as he made his way, limping, toward San Diego to plant the cross there. I fear those Christians who do not keep walking, but remain enclosed in their own little niche. It is better to go forward limping, and even at times to fall, while always trusting in the mercy of God, than to be museum Christians who are afraid of change. Even though they received a charism or vocation, instead of serving the eternal newness of the Gospel, they are caught up in defending themselves and their own roles. A vocation is a calling received from another. It entails letting go of ourselves, setting out and placing ourselves at the service of a greater cause. In humility, we become co-workers in the Lord s vineyard, renouncing every spirit of possession and vainglory. How sad it is to see that at times we, men and women of the Church, do not know how to cede our place. We do not let go of our responsibilities serenely, but find it hard to hand over to others the works the Lord had entrusted to us. So you too, siempre adelante. With courage, creativity and boldness. Do not be afraid to renew your structures. Do not rest on your laurels, but be ever ready to try new things. As in the Olympic Games, may you always be ready to pass the torch, above all to future generations, knowing that the flame is lit from on high, precedes our response and exceeds our efforts. Such is the Christian mission: One sows and another reaps (John 4:37). Dear brothers and sisters, I encourage you to be true friends to seminarians and priests, showing your love for them by promoting vocations and through prayer and pastoral cooperation. Please, keep pressing forward. Forward in hope, forward with your mission, ever looking beyond, opening new horizons, making room for the young and preparing the future. The Church and priestly vocations need you. May Mary Most Holy, Mother of the Church and Mother of priests, be with you every step of the way. And I ask you, please, to pray for me.

18 September 21, 2017 The A.D. Times 19 Founder s Day Lecture at Alvernia Sept. 25 This year s Founder s Day lecturer at Alvernia University, Reading will be Dr. David Couturier, author of Franciscans and Their Finances: Economics in a Disenchanted World. The lecture, titled Franciscan Values in a Healthy World Economy: What Is Ours to Do?, will be Monday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in Francis Hall Theater. Couturier will explore how St. Francis of Assisi s understanding of a social or fraternal economy can inform many of today s economic challenges. Couturier is also dean of the School of Franciscan Studies at St. Bonaventure University, New York and former director of the Franciscan Institute. This event is free and open to the public. The Founder s Day lecture is a way to celebrate the university s Catholic heritage and the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters who founded the college. It is also part of the Francis Factor: Past, Present and Future series launched in 2016 and sponsored by the university s Mission Integration Office. Topics delve into Pope Francis as a servant leader and explore ways he is influencing the embrace of the Gospel in the Church and wider world. Parish Festival of St. Matthew the Evangelist At the annual parish festival of St. Matthew the Evangelist, Minersville Aug. 20 at South Cass Fire Company Picnic Grounds, then-bishop-elect (now Bishop) Alfred Schlert, right, visits the stands thanking the parishioners for their hard work on behalf of the parish. Pictured with him are, from left: Diane Miller, Mary Ellen Renninger and Elaine Stine, workers at the hot dog/hamburger stand; and Father Leo Maletz, pastor. Donate Diapers to Catholic Charities Monday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Oct. 1 is Diaper Need Awareness Week. Catholic Charities provides diapers to families in need through its Pregnancy and Parenting Support Program. The program needs parish families, if possible, to donate diapers during this time to help others in need of assistance. All sizes and brands will be accepted. For more information, call Jerry Landi at , ext. 313.

19 20 The A.D. Times Opinion Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre A Knighthood Conferred by the Catholic Church Most of us are aware of the Knights of Columbus. The fourth degree is the patriotic degree widely recognized as honor guards at ecclesiastical and fraternal functions. As a fourth degree knight myself, I realize that the first three degrees make one a full-fledged knight in any council. The of Allentown has encouraged parishes to submit names of those who could join in the charitable works and volunteer services of the council by becoming a Knight of Columbus. Membership is open to men only. The fraternal group was founded by Father Michael McGivney ( ). His cause for canonization was begun in The Catholic Church also confers knighthood on its members. Some are papal honors such as the Pian Order (Heads of State) and for men and women the Order of St. Gregory the Great and the Order of Pope St. Silvester in the degrees of knights and dames. Other forms of knighthood are ecclesiastical honors such as the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and the Knights of Malta. Individual parishioners with a desire to assist in charitable causes for the Holy Land can apply with the approval of the Bishop. During the first crusade the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre was founded in 1099 for safeguarding the tomb of Christ and providing assistance for pilgrims. Sir Godfrey de Bouillon, the military leader of the combined forces for the crusaders, called for volunteers from among his knights to spend their life guarding the newly liberated tomb of Christ. The new order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre won papal approval as ordered by Pope Paschal II in 1113.The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem lasted less than 100 years, during which time the crusaders built great churches, forts and castles. The church of the Holy Sepulchre was built covering both sites of the crucifixion and the tomb of Christ. After the fall of the Latin kingdom, the knights were dispersed, some becoming monastic while others continued to do charitable work. The modern history of the order began with the restoration of the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem in 1847 after nearly 400 years of vacancy. Pope Pius IX established four classes of knighthood. Pope Leo XIII authorized the conferring of the honors of the order with equivalent ranks and dignity to the Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre. The ranks are Knight and Lady of the Holy Sepulchre (KHS, LHS); Knight Commander and Lady Commander of the Holy Sepulchre (KCHS, LCHS); Knight Commander with Star and Lady Commander with Star (KC*HS, LC*HS); and Knight Grand Cross and Lady Grand Cross (KGCHS, LGCHS). The insignia of the order worn today by the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre is the Red Cross of the five wounds of Christ. It is referred to as the Jerusalem Cross, or the Cross of Godfrey. Members today wear this cross as a testimony of submission to Christ. By Msgr. William Baver, KCHS Board of Councilors, Eastern Lieutenancy, Allentown representative; pastor, SS. Simon and Jude, Bethlehem. September 21, 2017 Knights wear the white cape of the order falling from the shoulders to half-way between the knee and ankle, decorated with the Cross of Jerusalem over the left side, along with a beret and white gloves. Ladies wear the black cape falling from the shoulders to the ankle with the Cross of Jerusalem over the left side, along with the mantilla and white gloves. These garments are worn during the Mass, as well as the cross-neck piece indicating their rank. Members are to support their parish and to which they belong. Each knight and lady at the time he or she becomes a member of the Eastern Lieutenancy in New York shall contribute to the association an amount determined by the Board of Councilors. Each knight and lady upon the elevation of his or her rank to that of the next higher grade shall make an additional contribution as determined by the board with respect to each grade. Each member shall contribute an annual amount as determined by the board. Such contributions make practical the charity to support the mission in the Holy Land. Funds are sent to Rome to the grandmaster, Cardinal O Brien, and forwarded to Jordan, Palestine and the Bishop in Jerusalem. Schools, hospitals, churches, seminaries and refugees are assisted. One Lady and seven Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre were honored to attend the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Alfred Schlert on Aug. 31. In the accompanying photo, the group is seen prior to the ordination outside the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena with the Bethlehem Equestrian Police with three of the four horses on duty. Bishop Schlert had been at the groundbreaking of the police stable at Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem. It was an honor for them to be represented this day for this important event in the life of our.

20 September 21, 2017 The A.D. Times 21 Calendar Editor s note: , fax or mail church-affiliated items for the Calendar page (Calendar, Retreats, Socials, Festivals, Bazaars, Trips) to: , adtimes@allentowndiocese.org; fax, ; The A.D. Times, P.O. Box F, Allentown, PA Items must be received by Thursday of the week before publication. Please type or print. Please notify The A.D. Times if bingos and other regularly listed events are cancelled for the summer or other holiday periods, and again when they resume. The A.D. Times publishes only newly announced, churchaffiliated trips on a regular basis. The entire previously announced repeating trip list is published only as space permits. Please notify The A.D. Times when seats are filled for a trip so it can be removed from the repeating list. Please do not send items again after they are published. For more information, adtimes@allentowndiocese.org or call , ext Thursday, Sept. 21 Berks Deanery Mass with Bishop Alfred Schlert, St. Ignatius Loyola Church, St. Albans Drive and Whitfield Boulevard, Sinking Spring, 7 p.m., people of the invited to celebrate Bishop Schlert s ordination and installation. Friday, Sept. 22 Healing Mass. with glove of St. Padre Pio, Our Lady Help of Christians, Allentown, 7 p.m., celebrant Father Pio Mandato (Franciscan Hermit and a distant cousin of St. Padre Pio), confession 6-6:45 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 24 Sounds of the Spirit Concert, Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth, Wernersville, 2 p.m., advance $10, at door $15, students $5, hour-long program as part of Art and Soul retreat, opusonechamberchoir@gmail.com, Monday, Sept. 25 Carbon Deanery Mass with Bishop Alfred Schlert, St. Joseph Church, 526 North St., Jim Thorpe, 7 p.m., people of the invited to celebrate Bishop Schlert s ordination and installation. Parish Mission, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton, through Wednesday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m. each evening (same presentation also 10 a.m. for those who cannot attend evening sessions), presenters Deacons Eddie Ensley and Robert Hermann, of Savannah, Georgia, The Christian Vision of Sport, Anthony Ruggiero Lecture on Catholic Education, DeSales University, Center Valley, 7 p.m., admission free and open to the public, presented by Dr. William Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, , ext. 1244, lore.mcfadden@desales.edu. Tuesday, Sept. 26 Serra Club of Bethlehem Dinner Meeting, Monocacy Manor, Bethlehem, 6 p.m., $15, speaker Sister Marian Bernadette Chuk. A Night with Bishop Barron s Catholicism: Pivotal Players St. Francis the Reformer, parish hall, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 27 Charismatic Healing Mass, SS. Philip and James, Phillipsburg, 7 p.m., celebrant Father Cliff Bishop, , dmhealing@aol.com. Bereavement Support Group, for those grieving the death of a loved one, St. Benedict, Mohnton, 6:30-8 p.m., Wednesdays through Oct. 25, free and nondenominational, , Thursday, Sept. 28 Understanding the Mass, five-week session of adult faith formation, Wortmann Center, Holy Family, Nazareth, 7-8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 30 Golf Outing, Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville, Mountain Valley Golf Course, Barnesville, 7:30 a.m. breakfast, 9 a.m. shotgun start, $90 per golfer, , , nativitygolfteam@gmail.com, benefit Hill Topper Golf Program. Rusyn Genealogy and Heritage Conference, Campus Center, King s College, Wilkes-Barre, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., $45, RSVP by Friday, Sept. 22 shangp@rcn.com, Allentown Central Catholic High School Class of th Reunion, Columbian Home, 519 E. Greenleaf St., Allentown, noon, information Juventutem Fourth Anniversary Pot Luck Picnic, Louise Moore Park, Bethlehem Township, noon-4 p.m., RSVP www. signupgenius.com/go/5080b4ba4a928abf85-anniversary1. Desire: Fulfilling Our Deepest Longing, wine and cheese event, Family Center, St. Thomas More, Allentown, 7-9 p.m., doors open 6:30 p.m., $10, national presenter Bill Donaghy from Theology of the Body Institute, register questions , ext Sunday, Oct. 1 Golf Outing, St. Joseph, Jim Thorpe, Mahoning Valley Country Club, Lehighton, registration 8 a.m., shot gun start/scramble 9 a.m., picnic and prizes 1 p.m., $85 ($80 by Sept. 24), register by Sept. 24, Breakfast, church hall, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, 9 a.m.-noon Blessing of Animals, playground, St. Casimir Church, Shenandoah, 11:30 a.m. Spaghetti Dinner, parish center, St. Patrick, Pottsville, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., adults $8, children $3.50. Shower of Roses, Shrine of St. Therese Lisieux, Nesquehoning, of St. Joseph Parish, Summit Hill, Mass 1 p.m.; procession 3 p.m., benediction 4 p.m., helicopter rose drop 5 p.m.; spaghetti dinner at Madonna Hall, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Shower of Roses, Carmelite Chapel of St. Therese, 3551 Lanark Road, Coopersburg, 3 p.m., Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, veneration of the relic of St. Therese, refreshments and baked goods noon-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2 Divine Mercy and 100 Years of Fatima, Faith and Spirits at Vito s Coal Fired Pizza and Restaurant, St. Clair, 6:30-8:30 p.m., speaker Father Rick James, no cost, menus available for food and drink at your expense, faith-and-spirits, , ext. 2021, adultformation@ allentowndiocese.org. Scholarship Golf Outing, St. Francis Academy, Bally, Butter Valley Golf Course, Barto, 12:30 p.m. shotgun start, $70 per person, $260 per foursome, , sfacademy@aol. com. Schuylkill Deanery Mass with Bishop Alfred Schlert, St. Clare of Assisi Church, Mill and Hancock streets, St. Clair, 7 p.m., people of the invited to celebrate Bishop Schlert s ordination and installation. Tuesday, Oct. 3 Blessing of Pets, in honor of parish patron saint, parking lot, St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 Lehigh Deanery Mass with Bishop Alfred Schlert, St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1046 W. Cedar St., Allentown, 7 p.m., people of the invited to celebrate Bishop Schlert s ordination and installation. Allentown Serra Club Dinner Meeting, Econolodge, Allentown 6 p.m., speaker Father Kevin Gualano on Fatima. Thursday, Oct. 5 Logos and Lagers, Catholic Bible Study for young adults ages in Berks County, St. Ignatius Loyola, Reading, 7-8:30 p.m., first Thursdays, Grief Support Group, for those grieving the death of a loved one, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown, convent meeting room, 6:30-8 p.m., Thursdays through Nov. 9, free and open to all, Saturday, Oct. 7 Life in the Spirit Seminar, Father Farrell Hall, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., also Sunday, Oct. 8, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., sponsored by the Allentown Catholic Charismatic group, information , all are welcome. Chicken and Waffle Supper, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall, 3-7 p.m., adults $8, children 4-12 $5, 3-under free. Boots and Bling, dinner gala and auction for Mercy School for Special Learning, Allentown, DeSales University, Center Valley, , 2017mercygala@gmail.com. Sunday, Oct. 8 Breakfast, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall, 8:30-11:30 a.m., adults $7, children 4-12 $3, 3-under free. Blessing of Animals, St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, 2 p.m. Red Mass, St. Catharine of Siena, Reading, noon, followed by reception in parish center, homilist Bishop Emeritus of the of Rockville Centre William Murphy, allentownstms@gmail.com. Monday, Oct. 9 Sculpting with Patti, taught by Patti Umlauf, St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 6:45-9 p.m., $30 per class, $100 four classes, also Oct. 16, 23, 30, , stfranciscenter@gmail.com, Friendly Fifties, St. John Byzantine Church, Northampton, social hall, 1 p.m., entertainment by country western singer Donna Parsons. Tuesday, Oct. 10 Serra Club of Bethlehem Dinner Meeting, Monocacy Manor, Bethlehem, 6 p.m., $15, speaker Deacon Hugh Carlin. Friday, Oct. 13 Our Lady of Fatima 100 th Anniversary Celebration, St. Catharine Chapel, 2427 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, 7 p.m., holy hour, rosary, litany and benediction; confession during holy hour; last of six monthly celebrations at churches in Berks County. Monthly Rosary for Our Lady of Fatima 100 th Anniversary Celebration, Divine Mercy, Shenandoah, at Grotto, Our Lady of Fatima Cemetery, Shenandoah, 7 p.m., in case of inclement weather Divine Mercy Church. G.K. Chesterton: A Prophet for the 21 st Century, auditorium, St. Francis Academy, Bally, 7 p.m., $10, observations by the great English writer and Catholic convert, presentation by Dale Ahlquist, reservations recommended, (click on GK Chesterton), questions , mchova1084@ gmail.com. Hoedown, Holy Family School, Nazareth, 7-10 p.m., $50, square dancing and silent auction, adults only, benefit Cool Our School Campaign to install air conditioning, hfshoedown@gmail.com,. Saturday, Oct. 14 Prayer Pilgrimage, for the unborn and those involved in abortion, Helpers of God s Precious Infants; Mass, Notre Dame of Bethlehem 8 a.m., followed by rosary at Allentown Women s Center, , Gods-Precious-Infants-of-Allentown. of Harrisburg Women s Conference Lead All Souls to Heaven, Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg, 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m., $30 early registration by Monday, Sept. 25; $40 by Monday, Oct. 2; $50 walk-in; keynote speaker Susan Brinkmann; celebrant and homilist Bishop Ronald Gainer; , jgontis@hbgdiocese.org, Strategies for Teaching Time Management to Children With/ Without Disabilities, McGlinn Conference and Spirituality Center, Reading, 9:30 a.m.-noon, , ext. 2280, jjohnson@allentowndiocese.org. Public Square Rosary Rally, one of over 20,000 rallies that day across the United States offering reparation for sins and offenses against Immaculate Heart of Mary and for conversion of United States, Abundant Graces, 3348 Easton Ave., Bethlehem, 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 15 Parish Breakfast, St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield, 8:30-11 a.m. Father Ciszek Day, Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League Center, 218 W. Cherry St., Shenandoah, noon-1:30 p.m.; Divine Liturgy, St. Casimir, Shenandoah, 2 p.m., celebrant Msgr. Ronald Bocian, homilist Jesuit Father Brian Van Hove, followed by social in church hall. Dedication of the to the Blessed Mother for the 100 th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown, noon Mass. Work Out Your Salvation, parish mission, Queenship of Mary, Northampton, through Wednesday, Oct. 18, each day confessions 5:30-6:30 p.m., conference 7 p.m., presented by Father Wade Menezes. Wednesday, Oct. 18 Friars Harvest Bistro, St. Francis Retreat house, Easton, 5-9 p.m., $55 per person, silent auction and music, dress business casual, annsfrh@rcn.com, , ext. 24. Allentown Serra Club Meeting, St. Thomas More, Allentown, 7 p.m., movie The 13 th Day. Thursday, Oct. 19 Finding God s Will in the Mundane, McGlinn Conference and Spirituality Center, Reading, 7 p.m., free of charge, presented by Jesuit Father Frank Kaminski, register , ext Saturday, Oct. 21 Theology of the Body Seminar, Office of Adult Formation, St. Mary, Kutztown, 9:30-11:30 a.m., presenter Dr. William Hamant; also Saturday, Nov. 11, presenter Andrew Whitmore, and Saturday, Dec. 2, presenter Sara Hulse; $20 per session, $50 all three, , ext. 2021, org/icf. Halloween Hop Dance, social hall, St. John the Baptist, Allentown, 7-10 p.m., doors open 6:30 p.m., $5 per person, Sunday, Oct. 22 The Family Fully Alive: 100 Years of Fatima, faith-filled activities at three locations in the, 4-7 p.m., $10 per family includes dinner and activities; St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall; St. Patrick, Pottsville; Holy Guardian Angels, Reading; hosted by Office for Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry, , ext Retreats First Tuesdays Simply Prayer, mornings of prayer, reflection and sharing, St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 9:30 a.m.-noon, free will offering, , stfranciscenter@gmail.com, Third Tuesdays Journey of the Heart: Introduction to Contemplative Prayer Practices, St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 7-9 p.m., free will offering, , stfranciscenter@gmail. com, Friday, Sept. 22 The Spirit in My Heart: A Day of Reflection for Diocesan Priest Spiritual Directors, Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth, Wernersville, 10:30 a.m., $50, register questions mleonowitz@jesuitcenter.org, Friday, Sept. 22 Sunday, Sept. 24 Art and Soul, weekend retreat, Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth, Wernersville, register questions mleonowitz@jesuitcenter.org, Saturday, Sept. 23 Our Lady of Fatima Spirituality Day Mini-Retreat, St Michael the Archangel Parish, 538 Sunbury St., Minersville, 8:30 a.m.- noon, presenter Father Dr. Luke Anderson, $10, preregistration required, Saturday, Sept. 30 We Are the Body of Christ, ongoing formation retreat for liturgical ministers, St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 8:45 a.m.-noon, $25, , stfranciscenter@gmail.com, Tuesday, Oct. 3 Celebration of the Transitus, Franciscan devotion to ritualize the journey of St. Francis from this life into eternity, Convent Chapel, St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 7 p.m., followed by reception, RSVP by Sunday, Sept. 24, , stfranciscenter@gmail.com, Friday, Oct. 6 Sunday, Oct. 8 Weekend Directed Retreat, Jesuit Center, Wernersville, $200, register questions mleonowitz@ jesuitcenter.org, Saturday, Oct. 7 Why Pray the Rosary? It s Boring, day of reflection, St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m., $45, facilitated by Father Patrick Lamb, stfranciscenter@gmail.com, Monday, Oct. 16 Feasting on the Spiritual Life, St. Francis Retreat House, Easton, 6 p.m., $30, preregister 10 days before retreat, Tuesday, Oct. 17 Renew Hope, twilight retreat, St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 6:45-9 p.m., $25, facilitated by Father John Gibbons, stfranciscenter@gmail.com, Please see CALENDAR page 22 }}

21 22 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 Calendar }}Continued from page 21 Monday, Oct. 23 Divine Love Letters (Lectio Divina), St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, 6:45-9 p.m., $25, Monday, Oct. 23 Friday, Oct. 29 Five-Day Directed Retreat, Jesuit Center, Wernersville, $540, register questions org, Thursday, Nov. 2 Praying at the Threshold, All Souls Day program, Jesuit Center, Wernersville, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (includes lunch) or 5-9 p.m. (includes dinner), $50, register questions mleonowitz@jesuitcenter.org, Friday, Nov. 3 Sunday, Nov. 5 To Praise You with All Your Saints, weekend retreat with the Ignatian Schola, Jesuit Center, Wernersville, $200, register questions mleonowitz@jesuitcenter.org, Festivals/Bazaars Saturday, Sept. 23 Wine Fest, St. Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., $20, advance tickets $15, designated drivers $5; rectory ; tickets by mail , , ages 21+, ID required at admission, including designated drivers; rain or shine. Saturday, Sept 23 Sunday, Sept. 24 Artisan Show, original artwork and handmade crafts, St. Nicholas, Walnutport, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 Diocesan Family Festival, at SteelStacks, Bethlehem, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., outdoor multi-cultural Mass 11 a.m. (bring a lawn chair), homemade ethnic foods, games and activities for all ages, live music by Island Time Band, org/familyfestival. Sunday, Oct. 1 Monocacy Farm Food Festival, 395 Bridle Path Road, Bethlehem, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., local food and craft artisans, children s activities, tractor demonstrations, face painting, environmentally friendly toys, farm tours, open house with early childhood education experts, beekeeping, suggested donation $5 per person, $10 per family, benefit Monocacy Farm Project of School Sisters of St. Francis; rain date Sunday, Oct. 8. Friday, Oct. 6 Saturday, Oct. 7 Harvest Fest, St. Mary, Hamburg, Friday 4-9 p.m., Saturday noon-9 p.m., Polka Mass Saturday 4:30 p.m.; new this year corn hole tournament Saturday 10 a.m., registration fee $40 per two-member team, registration deadline Monday, Oct. 2, , Sunday, Oct. 15 Oktoberfest, St. Joseph, Jim Thorpe, noon-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 Oktoberfest, St. Mary Annunciation BVM, Catasauqua, 5-9 p.m., , kim.stmarys122@gmail.com. Saturday, Nov. 18 Christmas Bazaar, Ave Maria Hall, St. Mary, Hamburg, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., , Socials Sundays Bingo, St. Joseph, Summit Hill, 6:30 p.m. Bingo, Immaculate Conception School, Pen Argyl, 1 p.m., doors open 11 a.m., Second Sundays Bingo, Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally, 12:30 p.m., doors open 11 a.m. Thursdays Bingo, St. Joseph, Summit Hill, 6:30 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 24; Oct. 8, 22; Nov. 5, 26; and Dec. 10 Bingo, Knights of Columbus Council 618, Shenandoah at St. Stephen Hall, 2 p.m., doors open noon, accessible to handicapped. Friday, Oct. 6 Sunday, Oct. 8 Basket Social, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall, Friday 5-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-2 p.m., food available for purchase Saturday and Sunday. Sundays, Oct. 8, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10 Bingo, St. Mary Annunciation BVM, Catasauqua, 1 p.m. Friday, Oct 13 Designer Bags Bingo, Women s Alliance, St. Ann School, Emmaus, 7 p.m., doors open 6:15 p.m., $25, tickets Sunday, Oct. 15 Meat Bingo, social hall, St. John the Baptist, Allentown, 1 p.m., doors and kitchen open noon, $11, Saturday, Oct. 21 Sunday Oct. 22 Fall Fest Basket Raffle, parish center, St. Paul, Allentown, Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Trips Editor s note: Trip listings include sponsoring group, destination, cost and contact information. Call the sponsor for other details, such as times, dining location, itineraries and what is included in the cost. Send church-affiliated trips to adtimes@allentowndiocese.org by Thursday of the week before publication. Newly announced Wednesday, Oct. 11 Holy Ghost Prime Time Seniors, Bethlehem to Mohegan Sun Casino, Wilkes-Barre, $24, Thursday, April 5 Saturday April 14, 2018 MSC Sisters, Reading to Lourdes, Paris and other sites in France, request a brochure Previously announced Saturday, Sept. 23 St. Thomas More, Allentown to Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, $204, Class of 1971, Holy Family School, Nazareth to Spirit of New York lunch cruise, $90, Saturday, Sept. 23 Saturday, Sept. 30 St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield cruise to Canada and New England, Thursday, Sept Club, Notre Dame of Bethlehem to cruise and casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, $65, Wednesday, Oct. 4 Golden Agers, Holy Family, Nazareth to Oktoberfest, Silver Birches (formerly Ehrhardt s), Lake Wallenpaupack, $85, Friday, Oct. 13 Travelers, St. Matthew the Evangelist, Minersville, pilgrimage to Blue Army Shrine, Asbury, New Jersey to celebrate the Fatima centennial, $25, , Monday, Oct. 23 Tuesday, Oct. 31 Travel Club, Assumption BVM, Slatington to Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon tour, $2,999, Thursday, Oct Club, Notre Dame of Bethlehem to 9/11 Museum and Memorial, New York City, $70, Wednesday, Nov. 1 Seniors in Action, Holy Trinity, Whitehall to Christmas Show, American Music Theater, Lancaster, $65,

22 September 21, 2017 The A.D. Times 23 of Allentown to be Dedicated to Mary All the Catholic dioceses and Easternrite eparchies in Pennsylvania will be dedicated to the Blessed Mother in honor of the 100 th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima. The dedication of the of Allentown will be Sunday, Oct. 15 at the noon Mass at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, 18 th and Turner streets, Allentown. The dedication will be celebrated that weekend in each of the state s eight dioceses and two eparchies. The other dioceses in Pennsylvania are of Altoona-Johnstown, of Erie, of Greensburg, of Harrisburg, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, of Pittsburgh and of Scranton. The two eparchies are Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. All the bishops of Pennsylvania will mark the dedication with a special Mass Calling all families! Join us for The Family Fully Alive: 100 Years of Fatima on Sunday, Oct. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. The Office of Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry of the of Allentown invites you to come together as a family to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Our Lady s appearance at Fatima and learn about what Our Lady told the world at that time. Events will include a family holy hour, Fatima-related crafts and activities, and a family meal (pasta, salad, rolls). The celebration will be at parish lo- Wednesday, Sept. 27 at noon at St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg. Join Us for Family Celebration of 100 Years of Fatima Oct. 22 cations in Berks, Lehigh and Schuylkill deaneries. Berks Holy Guardian Angels Parish, 3121 Kutztown Road, Reading. Lehigh St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, 618 Fullerton Ave., Whitehall. Schuylkill St. Patrick Parish, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville. Registration cost of $10 per family includes dinner and activities for the entire family, and we encourage families with children of all ages to attend. For questions, contact Alexa Doncsecz at adoncsecz@allentowndiocese.org. Learn the Truth About the Rosary Oct. 26 in Pen Argyl Is praying the rosary worshiping Mary? Why isn t the rosary mentioned in the Bible? Why is the rosary so powerful? Join the Office of Adult Formation as Father Kevin Gualano discusses how to answer these and other common questions about the rosary. The Rosary: Power Beyond Description will be Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish Hall, 300 W. Babbitt Ave., Pen Argyl. Formerly known as the Apologetics Forum, this free series Truth: What the Catholic Church Really Teaches will discuss topics of faith that many of our Theology of the Body Seminars Being Offered The Office of Adult Formation is inviting everyone to join its seminars to delve into Pope St. John Paul II s groundbreaking teaching known as the Theology of the Body. These seminars are for anyone recognizing the need for restored relationship with God, others, and the created world. Each seminar will take place in the Religious Education building of St. Mary Parish, Kutztown from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the dates listed below. contemporaries disagree with or don t ascribe to. Many of us believe the Church s teachings but don t know how to speak about them with our neighbors, co-workers and children. Truth: What the Catholic Church Really Teaches will prepare everyday lay Catholics with the tools of how to discuss the challenging teachings of our great faith. For more information, visit adultformation@allentowndiocese.org or call , ext Cost is $20 per seminar or save $10 by registering for all three together at www. allentowndiocese.org/icf. For questions, adultformation@allentowndiocese. org or call Saturday, Oct. 21 Encountering Love This seminar will discuss God s original plan for us and the gifts he bestowed on us before the fall of our first parents in Eden. Our bodies are more than just vehicles for our souls. They express something deep in our human experience that connects us to God, each other and the world. Presenter will be Dr. William Hamant of DeSales University, Center Valley. Saturday, Nov. 11 The Redemption of the Heart This seminar will discuss the fall in Eden and how it affects our relationship with God, each other and the world around us. It won t be all bad news; we will also explore how Jesus redeems our broken hearts and offers us a path to renewed relationship. Presenter will be Andrew Whitmore, a doctoral candidate studying at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Saturday, Dec. 2 The Beauty of Love This seminar will discuss the different vocations of love that we are all called to and will show how each points to our ultimate end in God s loving embrace. Presenter will be Sara Hulse, a doctoral candidate studying at Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while teaching at DeSales University, Center Valley.

23 24 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 Healing Mass set for Oct. 23 There will be a Mass of Healing for those individuals who have experienced trauma, Monday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 117 Washington St., Bath. All are invited to join in prayer at this Mass with Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert as celebrant and Msgr. Walter Scheaffer as homilist. After Mass there will be a Holy Hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and the opportunity for confession. The evening will conclude with Benediction at 8:30 p.m. Misa de Sanación El lunes 23 de octubre a las 6:30 p.m. se celebrará una Misa de Sanación para aquellas personas que han sufrido un trauma. Todos están invitados a unirse en oración en esta Misa con El reverendo Alfred Schlert como celebrante y Monseñor Walter Scheaffer como predicador en la Parroquia del Sagrado corazón, 117 Washington St., Bath. Después de la Misa habrá una Hora Santa de oración ante el Santísimo y la oportunidad de confesarse. La noche concluirá con la Bendición a las 8:30 p.m. Seminarian Receives Ministry of Lector of Allentown seminarian John Maria, second from left, was admitted Sept. 16 to the Ministry of Lector, one of the two ministries a man must receive before Holy Orders. The other is the Ministry of Acolyte. Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia Edward Deliman admitted Maria and the other candidates to the ministry in a ceremony in St. Martin of Tours Chapel at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia. Pictured with him are, from left, his brother Carl Maria, his mother Theresa Maria and his sister Annette Gromelsk. Maria is in Third Theology at St. Charles and is a parishioner of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish, Sinking Spring. Pennsylvania Catholic Conference U.S., Pa. Bishops Voice Concerns About DACA The president and vice president along with chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have issued a statement about the administration s termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program after six months, according to the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference. Over 780,000 youth received protection from the DACA program since its inception by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in DACA provided no legal status or government benefits but did provide recipients with temporary employment authorization to work in the United States and reprieve from deportation. The statement reads: The cancellation of the DACA program is reprehensible. It causes unnecessary fear for DACA youth and their families. These youth entered the U.S. as minors and often know America as their Action Alert Expansion of Education Tax Credit Program only home. The Catholic Church has long watched with pride and admiration as DACA youth live out their daily lives with hope and a determination to flourish and contribute to society: continuing to work and provide for their families, continuing to serve in the military, and continuing to receive an education. Now, after months of anxiety and fear about their futures, these brave young people face deportation. This decision is unacceptable and does not reflect who we are as Americans. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia said, Part of being pro-life and pro-religious freedom both of them vital issues that need our strong support is a willingness to look past these specific struggles to the dignity of the whole person. It s one thing to tighten the security of our borders and to deport violent criminals here illegally. It s a different and much uglier thing to punish young people who ve grown up in the United States as their home, but whose parents entered the country with them illegally. The DACA program covers more than 800,000 noncitizen young people, protecting them from deportation and allowing them to work in the United States legally. It s a humane, just and sensible recognition of the facts: Most of these young people have nowhere else to go, and no other home than the United States. The White House has the power to end DACA. This would be a drastic mistake. It can only make our complicated immigration issues worse. It will poison our national debates and damage the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people who pose no threat to anyone. I ask the people of the Archdiocese to press their federal lawmakers to find a positive legislative replacement for DACA, and to prevent the deportation of these young people. Bishops from across Pennsylvania echoed the call by the USCCB (Harrisburg Bishop Ronald Gainer) and have also spoken out in support of DACA (Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik), citing that the Administration s decision ignores the reality of the positive contributions these young people have made within our communities (Greensburg Bishop Edward Malesic). Additionally, This decision does not reflect the message of the Gospel of Jesus or the values that have made the United States the greatest country in the world. We have a long and proud history of welcoming persons from other countries who come to our land seeking freedom to practice their religion, live in safety and work hard to provide a decent life for their families (Bishop Joseph Bambera, of Scranton). The Advocacy Network of the diocesan Office of Government Affairs has been alerted to urge lawmakers to support expansion of an education tax credit program. Pennsylvania lawmakers have returned to Harrisburg to continue the debate on the state budget. Now is the time to urge all lawmakers to invest in success and support the expansion of the educational Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. It has been acclaimed as one of the best educational programs Pennsylvania offers to students in both public and private schools, and as is stands, the House has a chance to vote on an EITC increase. The Catholic Advocacy Network is encouraged to send a message to state officials urging them to vote yes on a state budget that includes an increase. Take action at the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference website c=%2fcampaigns%2f54365%2frespo nd.

24 September 21, 2017 The A.D. Times 25 Being the Heart of God on Earth Lay Missionaries of Sacred Heart of Jesus Celebrate Quarter Century By TAMI QUIGLEY Staff writer This September the Lay Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (LMSC) celebrates 25 years of being the heart of God on earth. LMSC, along with the MSC sisters, with whom they are associates, will culminate their year-long celebration with a special Mass and dinner Saturday, Oct. 14 at Sacred Heart Villa, Reading. MSC Father E. Michael Camilli, senior priest at Holy Guardian Angels, Reading, will celebrate the 1 p.m. liturgy, followed immediately by the dinner. The theme of the milestone year is From Root to Blossom to Fruit. I have been a member of this beautiful family since 1992, said Joann Rivera, coordinator of LMSC and parishioner of St. Columbkill, Boyertown. Sharing the MSC charism, being the heart of God on earth, inspires me to go forth to share that wonderful news with those I meet, Rivera said. I am able to be the heart of God in my own little corner of the world, in the various ministries I am involved with in my own parish. Sharing the history of LMSC, Rivera said MSC Father Jules Chevalier founded the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1854 in Issoudun, France. From the very beginning, Father Chevalier envisioned this society to include priests, brothers, sisters and the laity; different branches, same tree. He was convinced that only God s love could heal the evils of his time and that this would require many missionaries. Lay Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (LMSC) gather June 17 at their yearly retreat day and commitment in the chapel of Sacred Heart Villa, Reading, from left: front, Bunnie Druzba and Corky Pishock, the newest received members; second row, Donna Sattler, Rosemarie Witt, Dolores Hehn, Eileen Mincarelli, Maryann McNally, Adria Polar, Jane Martin and Lynn Ditlow; third row, Barbara Jaruszewski, MaryAnn Tasillo, Kathy Toth, Anita Wagner and Joann Rivera; fourth row, Cathy Moyer, Tish Sommers, Anne Hefele, Marie Pellish, MSC Sister Lorraine Molchanow and Diane Hospador; back, Jesuit Father Jack Barron, who led the retreat. (Photo courtesy of Joann Rivera) In 1900 the sisters were founded in Germany by MSC Father Hubert Linckins, and the sisters arrived on American shores in After the Second Vatican Council, orders were encouraged to go back to their roots. With the encouragement of MSC Sister Teresita Nolden, the Pennsylvania Lay Bikers Donate to St. Joseph Center for Special Learning The New Minersville Firehouse Bikers donated $4,000 from their annual Harlen Hippo Zimmerman Memorial Poker Run to St. Joseph Center (SJC) for Special Learning, Pottsville. Gathered are, from left: front on motorcycles, Father Leo Maletz, pastor of St. Matthew the Evangelist, Minersville, and Isobel Roehl; middle, Charles Stanchick, Rita Stanchick, Ralph Conshue, Claude Lord, Karen Wagner, Robin Wagner (president of bikers), Roobhenn Smith (SJC principal), Regina Kleeman (bikers treasurer), Amanda Campbell (SJC advancement director), Deb Gogno (SJC board member), Karen Harley, Gary Purcell (vice president of bikers), Lisa Yanek, Randy Yanek and Jean Cappella; back, Bob Kehoe, Doug Stine, Patti Stine, Leroy Gwin, Mike Donaldson, Waldo Slifka (a founder of the bikers), Joe Seiders, June Mione, Helen Droskinis, Charles Stancavage, Donna Rae Purcell, Maria Leganza and John Stephen. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart began in 1992 in Norristown, under the guidance of MSC Sister. Eileen Kantz. Today we are in Schuylkill County, Lehigh County, Boyertown, Reading and Willow Grove, said Rivera. We meet as area groups every other month and then come together at Sacred Heart Villa, Reading. MSC Sister Lorraine Molchanow is the group s spiritual director. The celebratory year kicked off Feb. 1 with Grateful Hearts Tea, enjoyed with the sisters and laity. On April 1 the LM- SCs looked at their historic roots and witnessed to what it means to belong. The annual retreat and commitment, Sharing the MSC charism, being the heart of God on earth, inspires me to go forth to share that wonderful news with those I meet. I am able to be the heart of God in my own little corner of the world, in the various ministries I am involved with in my own parish. welcoming two new members, took place June 17. The planting of two trees in memory of lay and deceased lay MSCs took place Aug. 5, followed by an ice cream social with the sisters. The year will conclude Saturday, Dec. 2 with remembrance of deceased laity and closing a time capsule. Anyone interested in learning about the LMSC may contact Rivera at joannriv7@gmail.com or Sister Lorraine at lorrainemolchanow@gmail. com. Switch to an Online Subscription of The A.D. Times To transfer your print subscription of The A.D. Times to instead receive an notification with a link to each new issue posted on the diocesan website, send the following information to adtimes@allentowndiocese.org or fill out the submission form on the diocesan website, address Name Address Parish Daytime phone number Subscriber number (on line immediately above your name printed in the lower left corner of this issue)

25 26 The A.D. Times September 21, 2017 St. Clare Parishioners Give Knots to Mary, the Undoer of Knots The papacy of Pope Francis has uplifted so many with his simplicity and desire to relate to the everyday Catholic. Our Holy Father, like his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI, has been a clarion to our families and parishes to become Schools of Prayer. As educators call for a return to the basics (reading, writing and arithmetic), we also need to return to the basics of prayer to pattern our Catholic Christian lives. Since the beginning days of his papacy, Pope Francis has reminded us that he and we are sinners, yet God s mercy ceaselessly reaches out to us. He has also inspired us with two of his own prayerful devotions Sleeping Joseph and Mary, Undoer of Knots. Both these devotional prayers uplift us from our fear of sin and sense of unworthiness to place our concerns into God s loving hands. This 17 th century devotion has its origins in Germany when a priest had a painting of the Blessed Mother commissioned in thanksgiving that his grandparents never divorced. His grandparents Wolfgang and Sophia Langenmantel were having marital difficulties, and Sophia was planning on leaving her husband. Her husband sought out the counsel of German Jesuit Father Jakob Rem, known for his Marian devotion. Father Rem noticed the couple s marital ribbon was knotted and dirty. Seeking the Blessed Mother s intercession, he undid all the knots. And holding the ribbon up in front of an image of Mary, the ribbon was once again dazzling white. If not for Father Rem s intervening to Mary our Mother, Wolfgang and Sophia would never had children, nor would they have had a grandson who would be ordained a priest. The original artwork still hangs in St. Peter am Perlach in Augsburg, Germany. The painting depicts Mary in the clouds of heaven surrounded by angels as her nimble fingers untie the knots in someone s life who has sought her intercession. During this past Easter season, the parish family of St. Clare of Assisi, St. Clair gathered in prayer with the Pontiff s favorite novena to Mary, Undoer or Untier of Knots. For the Sundays in April and May, parishioners prayed the rosary novena to Mary, the Undoer of Knots and then publicly prayed the nine-day novena at daily Mass May (the Feast of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin, Elizabeth) or in their private prayer time. Msgr. Bill Glosser, pastor of St. Clare and administrator of St. Stephen, Port Carbon, stated during the parish Lenten mission he felt the strong need for the Blessed Mother in the parish at the time. It was confirmed by his friend, Father Jim Carroll, administrator of St. Mary s Byzantine Church, Mahanoy City, who for the past eight years has been present at St. Clare s parish mission. This year he came with the traveling icon of Mary Helper of Mothers. It is a very rare icon of Mary, the Theotokas or God-Bearer. The Helper of Mothers image is used for women having difficulty conceiving or in the midst of a difficult pregnancy. However, the icon also symbolizes how intimate the connection between parish church and believers should be bringing all one s troubles to God through the intercession of His Blessed Mother. The Western Church s devotion to Mary, Undoer of Knots and the Eastern Church s devotion to Mary, Helper of Mothers all deal with the anxieties, stresses, obsessions, challenges, fears, addictions and sins of our lives simply the things that knot us all up. Mary is Above, parishioners of St. Clare of Assisi, St. Clair gather around the grotto for a candlelight service. Right, white ribbons are tied to the trellis behind the parish s Our Lady of Fatima. there to undo the knots of our lives. Jo-Ellen Gipe, a parishioner and one of the novena organizer s commented: We all have knots in our lives and that was never more evident than this past month in the grotto of St Clare of Assisi. The trials and tribulations in our lives are rarely spoken about to other parishioners, sometimes not even to family or friends. During the month of May our knots took on the physical form of white ribbons, which were tied to the trellis in the grotto. We gave our knots to Mary, the Undoer of Knots asking for her help. To see the trellis fill week by week, with white ribbons (over 400) was truly overwhelming. The grotto came to life on the last day of May as a candlelight service was held and the parish came together as a family to recite the rosary imploring Mary for her assistance in helping us undo our knots. It was a beautiful night and one which I will remember for a long time. To see so many people (approximately 150) come out on a weeknight was very reassuring that our faith and devotion to Mary is very much alive and thriving in the parish of St Clare of Assisi, a family of which I am very blessed to be a member. Many photographs were taken to be shared, but nothing can replace the sense of unity and spiritual uplifting that I experienced that memorable evening. The trellis built by parishioner Joe Corby Sr. was erected behind the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Parishioners and visitors were welcome to take white ribbons with a prayer to Mary Undoer of Knots and tie it to the trellis. Many people stopped by the prayer grotto to pray. Joe Corby said, Every time I came to church, I was in awe how the ribbons kept multiplying on the trellis. We need more visible signs of what the power of prayer can do. One evening Msgr. Glosser watched a family a father, mother and two young boys pull up, get out of their vehicle, tie a ribbon and pray together as a family. It moved me to stop and say a prayer for that family for whatever difficulties they were experiencing. Ever since the grotto was erected in 2013, parishioner Jack Ketner expressed his awe of the people who stop by to offer a prayer. Early in the morning people on their way to work they pull up in their cars, offer a prayer and then drive away, he said. Every day a woman who works in the industrial park walks to the grotto on her lunch hour, prays a rosary and then goes back to work. There is always someone sitting on the bench or standing in front of Mary s statue. Ketner spearheaded and supervised the efforts of the men of the parish to build the grotto, doing all the hardscape, and parishioner Barry Kellner did the landscaping. The evening concluded with the launching of colorful Chinese lanterns rising over the grotto up into the stratosphere, and an ice cream social attended by the participants in the evening devotions. Already looking forward to next year, parishioner Anne McCormick said it best: Coming together as a parish family to recite the rosary was a very moving experience. Our faith in Jesus was strengthened as we joined in prayer, knowing that each one of us has struggles or knots in our lives. Communal prayer brings us closer to Jesus through Mary s intercession, as well as closer to each other. Many parishioners were spiritually fed that evening. They expressed a desire to have many more candle rosary services in the future.

26 September 21, 2017 World The A.D. Times 27 Helping, Not Fame From Chainsaw Video, Brings Sister True Joy WASHINGTON (CNS) She inspired many when she rolled up the sleeves of her habit to clean up after Hurricane Irma with a chainsaw. After the local police department posted a video Sept. 12 on Twitter of Carmelite Sister of the Most Sacred Heart Margaret Ann Laechelin trimming branches off a fallen tree with a chainsaw, she became an instant hit and a symbol of sorts for the hurricane-ravaged Miami area. She saw a motorist struggling to navigate a road obstructed by a fallen tree and worried for the safety of others. The road was blocked and we couldn t get through, and I saw somebody spin in the mud and almost go into a wall and off the road, and so there was a need, I had the means, I wanted to help out, Sister Laechelin explained to CNN Sept. 12 as a video played in the background showing her, wearing the Carmelites brown tunic, chopping apart a tree with chainsaw. Sister Laechelin told CNN that the school where she is principal, Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School, had chainsaws stored in a closet and, given the circumstances of the destruction, she put them to use. They needed to be used, she said, during her prime-time cable news interview. We teach our students, Do what you can to help, and so this was an opportunity where I could do something to help and, thanks be to God, I was able to do it. Bishops }}Continued from page 28 vate an attitude of listening, growing in The video sent Twitter into a storm of its own about the chainsaw-wielding nun cleaning up after Hurricane Irma. Some said she was a symbol of grit, resilience and community spirit. Country music singer Dylan Schneider, inspired by Sister Margaret Ann, belted out lyrics later posted via video on Twitter, and composed some lines about her can-do spirit. Everyone out there pitching in, lending a hand... there s one in particular, he sang. Sister Margaret Ann wielding that chainsaw, chopping up them tree limbs, makes us want to bow down and say Amen. Look at you go, Sister. She s a do-it-herselfer, holy helper, Sister Margaret Ann. She was just trying to clean up the road, she said, but also putting action behind what she often tells students: Do what you can for other people, don t think of yourselves. And so, that s what I wanted to do. It s part of who we are, it s what we do, she said. People are making a big deal about the chainsaw, but I ve already given my life to God and that s what brings true joy, not the fame that came after the airing of the video, said Sister Laechelin in a Sept. 14 phone interview with Catholic News Service. But the school community has been enjoying the fame and the attention it has brought to the suburban Miami Catholic school of 300 students in West Kendall, the freedom to give up your own point of view when it is shown to be partial and insufficient to assume God s. A bishop s discernment is a creative process that is an antidote to rigidity because the same solutions aren t valid she said. They say Sister, you re famous. Can I have your autograph? she said. The community needs every bit of levity it can find as it recovers from the damage wrought by Hurricane Irma, which led to the school s closing because a cooling tower needs to be fixed before students are allowed to return. Inspired by the Carmelite s example of contributing to the cleanup, families from the school have shown up to help clean around the perimeter, she said. The school has been helping the surrounding community, giving out ice (from its icemaker) and providing a place for others to charge their phones and regroup, Sister Laechelin said. There s such joy in giving. And that s what she was doing when she decided to clear the tree from the road when a police officer, armed with a phone, happened to drive by and filmed her. Though you wouldn t know it from the video, she had never really used a chainsaw before, but when she was faced with finding a way to clear the tree, she remembered some important advice from her students. I had to go on YouTube to figure it out, she said, but growing up in Texas, I did a lot of yardwork and my dad taught me to figure things out. Though she lives in Florida, she is a member of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart in Los Angeles, who Carmelite Sister Margaret Ann Laechelin, principal of Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School in Miami, holds the chainsaw she used to help clean up debris following Hurricane Irma. (CNS photo/courtesy of Sister Margaret Ann) also have a community of four women religious in Florida. Via FaceTime, she has been talking to them, easing the concerns of her community in Los Angeles. everywhere, Pope Francis added. Remember that God was already present in your dioceses when you arrived and he will still be present when you have gone, the pope told the new bishops. In the end, we will all be measured not by an accounting of our works but on the growth of God s work in the hearts of the flock that we watch over in the name of the shepherd and guardian of our souls.

27 28 The A.D. Times World September 21, 2017 Being Legally Blind Doesn t Hinder Catholic Priest Serving His Flock By ANTHONY SALAMONE Catholic News Service EASTON, Pa. (CNS) A visitor attending Mass at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church might not notice anything unusual about the celebrant. Father Bernard Ezaki walks the center aisle of the massive church in Easton. He climbs the steps leading to the altar like any other priest or liturgical minister. He recites prayers with the normal vigor and rhythm of a cleric. People might notice Father Ezaki doesn t use the Sacramentary to read the prayers or that he holds a micro-cassette in his left hand, and that technology contains all the Mass prayers and readings. He also distributes Communion to the faithful just like any other priest, though he has one rule: Be still. I need a big landing field, he said. I tell them, especially at funerals, I don t want to put my fingers in your mouth. If you haven t caught on by now, here is what you need to know about Father Ezaki: He is legally blind; he has been that way since birth. I m grateful, the 60-year-old priest said during an interview in his office, where decorations include a statuette of Stuart, the short, one-eyed minion from the Despicable Me movies. If I could see well, I d be in trouble. I might not even be a priest today. Next year, Father Ezaki will celebrate the 30 th anniversary of his ordination as a priest in the of Allentown. Spokesman Matt Kerr, who has served the diocese since 2000, said Father Ezaki is the only blind priest in the diocese as far as he knows. It s possible there were others, men who became blind as they aged, Kerr said. But I can t say one way or the other. A 1991 article in the Allentown Morning Call newspaper cites another spokesman saying Father Ezaki was the first blind priest to be ordained in the diocese. According to an article by Independent Catholic News, an online news outlet in the United Kingdom, church law before 1983 forbade the ordination of blind candidates and those with other physical impairments. Father Ezaki s blindness resulted from being given too much oxygen after his premature birth. That led to retinopathy of prematurity, a blinding eye disorder that can affect premature infants and lead VATICAN CITY (CNS) A bishop cannot truly discern God s will by lording over his flock; rather he must listen to and participate in the lives of those entrusted to his care, Pope Francis told some 120 new bishops, including Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert. A bishop s discernment is a community action that cannot disregard the richness of the opinion of his priests, deacons, the people of God and those who can offer a useful contribution, the pope said Sept. 14 at the end of the annual Vatican training for new bishops. The bishop is not a self-sufficient father-ruler, nor is he a frightened and isolated solitary shepherd, he said. Entering the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis was greeted with warm applause by the men he had named to lead dioceses around the world. Seeing so many bishops in one room, the pope jokingly asked them, Is this the third Vatican Council? In his speech, the pope reflected on the pastoral and spiritual discernment a bishop needs to guide men and women in their search for life and happiness. Above, Father Bernard Ezaki, assistant pastor at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church, Easton, gives Communion at Mass July 2. (CNS photos/ Ed Koskey) Right, Father Ezaki holds the microcassette recorder that he uses for Mass prayers, the homily and readings when he celebrates Mass. to lifelong vision impairment and blindness. The lack of vision has never slowed him down. The idea of a religious vocation first entered Father Ezaki s mind as a child. He told his parents, the late Dr. Toshio and Mary Ezaki, he wanted to become a priest because he thought they worked only on Sundays. In high school and college, he said, he began seriously considering the priesthood. Father Ezaki attended Allentown public schools and earned bachelor s and master s degrees, including a master s in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He studied for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia. As a student, Father Ezaki used recorded textbooks. He took careful notes and always found people willing to read to him. Father Ezaki said he learned how to To lead their flocks, bishops must themselves be guided by the Holy Spirit, which comes only from a personal relationship with God through prayer, and which helps them in being wise in their choices and in their personal and ecclesial behavior. True discernment, he said, lies in cultivating a listening attitude that does not rely on the eyes of others, but uses one s own eyes to see the places and people, the spiritual and cultural traditions of the diocese. Humility toward one s own plans and priorities and obedience to the Gospel and the teachings of the church also are necessary components of discernment, which serves as remedy to the immobility of it s always been done this way or let s take some time. A bishop cannot take for granted that he has wisdom, as if it were an acquired right that comes with ordination, the pope said. No, wisdom is a gift which must be prayed for continually. And, he said, I invite you to culti- record the prayers and readings from another priest who became blind after being ordained. He said he records the liturgy with a magnifying glass and tape recorder. You know when you read a lot, your eyes are always a little ahead of your mouth? he asked. My ear is always ahead of my mouth. A wire from the tape cassette runs under his chasuble, with an earpiece in his left ear enabling him to listen to the words. If I want to stop it to tell a joke, I just stop it, he said. Father Ezaki began his first year as an assistant pastor. He then taught theology to sophomores at Bethlehem Catholic High School until 2013, when then-allentown Bishop John Barres, now Bishop of the of Rockville Centre, New York, asked him how long he had been teaching. I said 24 years, Father Ezaki recalled. He said, 24 years! That s the most emotion I ve ever seen out of that guy. I knew right then I was out of there. He came to St. Jane in October 2016 after serving as an assistant pastor at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown. Despite his blindness and other setbacks, Father Ezaki never shows bitterness, according to those who know him. He is known, however, for sprinkling humor into his homilies, writings or everyday conversations much of it selfdeprecating. He sometimes editorializes, too Ȧt the end of Mass July 2, Father Ezaki mentioned the pride swelling from St. Jane parishioners with the news that a native of their parish, Bishop-elect Alfred Schlert, was named June 27 by Pope Francis to become the s Fifth Bishop, succeeding Bishop Barres. We priests are very enthusiastic, Father Ezaki said. The good thing is that he knows us and we know him. And the bad thing is we know him and he knows us. That elicited first laughter, then applause, from the congregation. Father Ezaki proclaimed, Let s belt this one out, as the organist played America the Beautiful, the recessional hymn for the Sunday before the Independence Day holiday. Father Ezaki also works on a blog called Apology Analogy, His writings use visual imageries analogies in defense of the Catholic faith. He is not afraid to express his Catholicism either in his writings or his preaching. They say one of the most common human fears is talking in front of people, he said. Not me. The bigger the crowds, the better. But I have my phobias about other things. Bishops Called to be Humble Shepherds, Not Lonely Masters, Pope Says Please see BISHOPS page 27 }} Twenty of the 21 U.S. bishops including Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert, front third from left who attended the annual Vatican s school for new bishops pose for a photograph during a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican Sept. 14. (CNS photo/courtesy of Bishop William Wack)