Ordinary Time 18

"It is necessary in every state of life for our help to
come from God."

- St. Teresa of Avila

On Friday, July 23, my family gathered at St. Joseph’s to celebrate our mother’s 87th birthday.  It has been a tradition of our family for many years to come together for a family reunion the week of her birthday.  In a world these days that is filled with Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and countless other modern day ways of relating, the face-to-face encounter of one another’s presence seems to be going by the wayside.  Our daily lives seem to be more technologically connected, but we seem to be losing the more meaningful relationships of family and friendships.

My brother, Bob, and his wife, Leann, and their daughter, Andrea, traveled 1,117 miles from Mustang, OK.  My brother, Dan, and his wife, Kelly, and their two sons, Daniel Patrick and Alex, traveled 428 miles from Greensboro, NC.  My brother, Dave, traveled 181 miles from Columbus, OH.  My sister, Karen, and her son, John Michael, came from Charleston, SC (in June) 656 miles.  And mom’s only living sister, Aunt Jo, traveled 55 miles from Salem, OH.  I also have a sister, Patty, and her husband, Chuck, who live here on Hiland Avenue in Coraopolis who were the closest.  We got a Dairy Queen ice cream cake for Mom and put on the two candles 87 and we mentioned to her that she was now Sidney Crosby’s age.  She was dressed in her new outfit from Macy’s, her favorite place to shop.  It was certainly a day to remember for all of us as the little ones raced up and down the Splash Blast out in the parish yard.  It was a grace to be together and to share time, giving thanks for all the blessings and graces we have received as a family.  On August 3, 1946, our parents were married at St. George Church in Lisbon, OH.  So this week they would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.  Our father died in February of 1986 and had told Mom that he traveled with her for 40 years and she must go in the Promise Land alone.  We grew up as a family with few material things, yet we were given much spiritual wealth, the gifts of faith, discipline, self-sacrifice, and unconditional love.

On Sunday, July 25, I attended the 25th Silver Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving of Fr. Kris D. Stubna at Holy Trinity Parish in Robinson Township.  Fr. Kris is presently the Secretary for Catholic Education in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  He has been a long-time friend of mine and was the senior class president at St. Paul Seminary when I entered in my freshman year in 1980.  I recall in my first English Composition class with Dr. Jerome Neidermeyer, we had to write a story of our most memorable meal.  There were 39 freshmen in our Duquesne English class and 23 of us received the grade of an F with a circle.  That meant it was below an F grade and there was much red ink that was spilled on the paper that needed correction.  At the time, I felt for sure that I was going to flunk out of college the first week.

I turned to the President of the Seminary, Fr. Kris, and he helped me rewrite that first time mess and menagerie after a volleyball game on a Friday night at the seminary gym.  He stayed up with me until 2:45 AM and when I turned the paper in I remember receiving a high grade.  I will never forget the time he took to help make a great turnaround in a day and for a life.

I was present on June 25, 1985 when he was ordained by then-Bishop (now Cardinal) Anthony J. Bevilacqua and I was happy to be there 25 years later.  He came over to Fr. Harry Bielewicz and my table and embraced us and said, *quot;I was grateful for you guys when we started discerning a vocation to the priesthood and I’m even more grateful now that we have walked this path together to come to share the truth of Jesus Christ in His Gospel, the unconditional love and mercy of God, and the life-giving grace of the Holy Spirit."

Fr. Kris noted in his worship booklet, "I remember in a most special way today my wonderful, beloved parents, Michael and Betty Jane Stubna, who I know are beaming with joy from their place in heaven.  I was blessed with parents who instilled in each of us strong faith, deep love for God and others, and all the values of life that are enduring.  I miss them tremendously but I will always carry with me their lifegiving spirit and love."

Fr. Kris noted in his homily that his organist and choir director, Rick Moser, played at his first Mass and he was happy that he was playing for his 25th anniversary.  He noted that Rich Moser said, "I don’t expect to be playing at your 50th!" as the congregation broke out in laughter.  Fr. Kris spoke of the humble and awesome privilege it was to share in the responsibility of teaching, sanctifying and leading the people of God to His way and message that leads to the fullness and flourishment of human life.  Fr. Kris also noted that in our culture today which focuses on "doing" rather than "being," he challenged us to the essence of holiness which is to be Christ to others, namely to manifest Christ to others by our thoughts, words and deeds and above all to project His presence is the goal of ministry and indeed of all holiness.  A gift of $40,000 was given in gratitude for his 25 years of priestly ministry and in memory of his loving parents so that children would have a Catholic education and hear the message of Jesus’ love.

Ordinary Time 17

"The gate of the kingdom must be asked for by praying, sought after by living properly, and knocked at by preserving.”

— St. Bede, The Venerable

When I was 13 until I was ordained at 26, I worked at Marian Manor Nursing Home in Greentree, which was under the direction of the Holy Spirit Sisters.  The administrator at the time was Sr. Mary Berchmans.  I served Mass daily at 7:15 each morning.  It was moving and touching to listen to the Holy Spirit Sisters pray the Divine Office each morning; their singing was angelic!  I spent 13 years at that institution, working as a porter during my high school days, on the grounds and waxing floors during my college and seminary days, and spending much time working in the greenhouse with an 80-year-old man named Lawson.  Looking back on it, I thank Sr. Mary Berchmans for helping nurture my discernment of a vocation.  Whenever she was making her rounds to see how we were doing, she would privately take me aside and ask the inevitable question, "How is your prayer life going?"  Sr. Berchmans asked this same question each time.  It was more of a concern for her about my prayer life than any work I was performing or any task to be done on the horizon.  She believed that our prayer life was central to everything in life -- centering the day on God, discerning to do His will, displaying a "Christ-like attitude," and being a blessing for others in letting His light shine into the world each new day!


Most of us learn the importance of prayer in our home.  Prayer is a gift and it is basic to Christian spiritual survival.  Authentic prayer is not a formula, style, type, ritual, or words, but an awareness of God’s presence.  The fourth pillar of the Catholic Catechism is dedicated to a life of prayer.  Prayer is the lifting up of our heart and our mind and our will to God.  Prayer, like any discipline, must be practiced to be perfected.  In Archbishop Anthony Bloom’s book, Beginning to Pray, he writes, "To fail to pray is to leave God our of our existence, and not just God, but everything God signifies for the world He has created, the world in which we live."


The Bible talks about praying in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2).  We need to pray in our work, in our relationships, and in our everyday lives.  In Jim Castelli’s book, How I Pray, he tells the story of the evangelist Billy Graham who said of prayer, "I heard about a young president of an East coast company.  He instructed his secretary not to disturb him because he had an important appointment.  The chairman of the board came in and said, 'I want to see Mr. Jones.’  The secretary answered, ‘I’m terribly sorry, he cannot be disturbed; he has an important appointment.’  And the chairman became very angry.  He banged open the door and saw the president of his corporation on his knees in prayer.  The chairman softly closed the door and asked the secretary, ‘Is this usual?’  And she said, ‘Yes, he does that every morning.’ And the chairman of the board said, ‘No wonder I come to him for advice.’"  Graham noted, "A prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian."


It was a joy to welcome and baptize four new infants last Sunday here at St. Joseph and I stressed to the parents and those in attendance the importance of prayer throughout our lives.  In the words of the late Pope John Paul II, "If you really wish to follow Christ, if you want your love for Him to grow and last, then you must be faithful to prayer.  It is the key to the vitality of your life in Christ.  Without prayer, your faith and love will die.  If you are constant in daily prayer and in the Sunday celebration of Mass, your love for Jesus will increase.  And your heart will keep deep joy and peace, such as the world could never give."


Fr. Michael Scanlon, TOR, in his book, Appointment with God, discusses the importance of making a "divine appointment" with God each day.  Just like we would make an appointment for the doctor, the hair stylist, the auto mechanic, the workout facility, or a dinner date.  We must make an appointment with God and be faithful to it.  Prayer is a matter of "life or death."  There are three important elements for an appointment for a healthy prayer life:

1) When are you going to meet?  Early morning, mid-day, or evening?  Where there is no unnecessary noise or interruptions?

2) Where are you going to meet?  An environment needs to be conducive to silence and quiet.

3) With whom are you going to pray?  Alone, an assembly, with the Bible, or reading spiritual giants of men and women saints through the ages?


We pray to adore God, to seek contrition from God, to give thanks to God, and to seek supplication from God.  Prayer is the best prescription for daily discipleship.