“... to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.”
- Jesse Owens
Following the 10:00 AM Mass on Catechetical Sunday last week, a catechist asked me if I was going to run in the Great Race this Sunday, September 26. The Great Race was established in 1977 as a 10K stretch by the late Mayor Richard Caliguiri. Reflecting on the over 14,000 participants, both runners and walkers, who will take to the streets of Pittsburgh, I remembered 15 years ago at the age of 33 when I ran my first (and only) marathon on May 7, 1995. I recalled taking instruction to run the 26.2 mile marathon with the proper conditioning, clothing, diet and accessories. Our instructor exhorted us that no matter where we were on the course, to take whatever is offered on any mile mark — whether water, Gatorade, banana, orange, popsicle or ice — because this will keep fuel in the tank and give energy to get to the end. In my office I have a small picture of that most memorable day -- I finished! I also have a large picture in my office of a solitary athlete running on an autumn morning with the caption:
“THE ESSENCE OF RUNNING — Running is a road to self-awareness and self-reliance. You can push yourself to extremes and learn the harsh reality of your physical and mental limitations, or coast quietly down a solitary path watching the earth spin beneath your feet. But when you are through, exhilarated and exhausted, and at least for a moment, everything seems right with the world.”
Although I will not participate in the Great Race, I do plan to run in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia as the priests of the Diocese of Pittsburgh are away from September 27-30 at Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling, WV. The theme for this triennial convocation is "Co-Responsible for Communion and Mission." 85% of the active priests in our diocese will attend. It is a wonderful time to be away in the autumn setting of West Virginia, called together by Bishop Zubik along with our brother priests to strengthen the bonds of fraternity, support, encouragement and prayer. We have the opportunity to rest and relax (physically), to recollect and regenerate (intellectually), to renew and recommit (spiritually) through a methodology of appreciative inquiry and dialogue, (a growth in human formation). Keynote speakers include:
This is the 7th multi-day convocation. It is a great water-hole to gather every three years as an entire presbyterate to reflect on making the Church Alive in Pittsburgh. The previous convocation topics in Oglebay were
Prayer for the Success of the Clergy Convocation
Heavenly Father, Your Son, Jesus Christ, came among us as one who serves and taught us how to serve one another in the Church and in the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ, as Head of the Church, in turn instituted the ordained priesthood so that certain men might serve in his name and in his person in the midst of the community. We are grateful for the many gifts our priests bring to us; for drawing us together in worship, visiting us in our home, comforting us in sickness, showing us compassion, blessing our marriage, baptizing our children, supporting us in bereavement, challenging us to grow in our Catholic faith, motivating us to take the initiative to reach out and support the poor, and encouraging us to work for the salvation of souls and the building up of the kingdom of God.
Bless Bishop Zubik and all our priests as they begin the triennial multi-day convocation. Open their hearts and minds to the important theme they are reflecting upon. Advance our priests’ appreciation for the communion between laity and priests, and deepen our unity and complementarity in service to the Church’s mission of reconciliation. Help these, our brothers in Christ, to cherish their time away together in the peaceful and pastoral setting of Oglebay, West Virginia.
God our Father, we ask you to bless our priests and confirm them in their calling. Give them the gifts they need to continue to respond with generosity and a joyful heart. We offer this prayer for our priests through Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Jesse Owens
Following the 10:00 AM Mass on Catechetical Sunday last week, a catechist asked me if I was going to run in the Great Race this Sunday, September 26. The Great Race was established in 1977 as a 10K stretch by the late Mayor Richard Caliguiri. Reflecting on the over 14,000 participants, both runners and walkers, who will take to the streets of Pittsburgh, I remembered 15 years ago at the age of 33 when I ran my first (and only) marathon on May 7, 1995. I recalled taking instruction to run the 26.2 mile marathon with the proper conditioning, clothing, diet and accessories. Our instructor exhorted us that no matter where we were on the course, to take whatever is offered on any mile mark — whether water, Gatorade, banana, orange, popsicle or ice — because this will keep fuel in the tank and give energy to get to the end. In my office I have a small picture of that most memorable day -- I finished! I also have a large picture in my office of a solitary athlete running on an autumn morning with the caption:
“THE ESSENCE OF RUNNING — Running is a road to self-awareness and self-reliance. You can push yourself to extremes and learn the harsh reality of your physical and mental limitations, or coast quietly down a solitary path watching the earth spin beneath your feet. But when you are through, exhilarated and exhausted, and at least for a moment, everything seems right with the world.”
Although I will not participate in the Great Race, I do plan to run in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia as the priests of the Diocese of Pittsburgh are away from September 27-30 at Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling, WV. The theme for this triennial convocation is "Co-Responsible for Communion and Mission." 85% of the active priests in our diocese will attend. It is a wonderful time to be away in the autumn setting of West Virginia, called together by Bishop Zubik along with our brother priests to strengthen the bonds of fraternity, support, encouragement and prayer. We have the opportunity to rest and relax (physically), to recollect and regenerate (intellectually), to renew and recommit (spiritually) through a methodology of appreciative inquiry and dialogue, (a growth in human formation). Keynote speakers include:
- Fr. John Cecero, SJ, Associate Professor in Psychology at Fordham University, Rector of the Jesuit Community and Director of the Center for Spirituality and Mental Health speaking on “Flourishing in the Priesthood” and “Shepherding in Communion”
- Bishop Richard Malone of Portland, Maine, speaking on “Pastoral Co-Responsibility”
- Kerry A. Robinson, Executive Director of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management, speaking on “Living in the World of Possibility”
This is the 7th multi-day convocation. It is a great water-hole to gather every three years as an entire presbyterate to reflect on making the Church Alive in Pittsburgh. The previous convocation topics in Oglebay were
- 1992 - A Shepherd’s Care
- 1995 - Called by Name
- 1998 - As One Who Serves: Leadership in the Church Today
- 2001 - Called to Proclaim the Gospel to All: Renewing Sunday Preaching
- 2004 - The Many Dimensions of Priestly Ministry: A Healthy and Holy Priesthood
- 2007 - The Priest as Evangelist and the Evangelizing Parish
Prayer for the Success of the Clergy Convocation
Heavenly Father, Your Son, Jesus Christ, came among us as one who serves and taught us how to serve one another in the Church and in the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ, as Head of the Church, in turn instituted the ordained priesthood so that certain men might serve in his name and in his person in the midst of the community. We are grateful for the many gifts our priests bring to us; for drawing us together in worship, visiting us in our home, comforting us in sickness, showing us compassion, blessing our marriage, baptizing our children, supporting us in bereavement, challenging us to grow in our Catholic faith, motivating us to take the initiative to reach out and support the poor, and encouraging us to work for the salvation of souls and the building up of the kingdom of God.
Bless Bishop Zubik and all our priests as they begin the triennial multi-day convocation. Open their hearts and minds to the important theme they are reflecting upon. Advance our priests’ appreciation for the communion between laity and priests, and deepen our unity and complementarity in service to the Church’s mission of reconciliation. Help these, our brothers in Christ, to cherish their time away together in the peaceful and pastoral setting of Oglebay, West Virginia.
God our Father, we ask you to bless our priests and confirm them in their calling. Give them the gifts they need to continue to respond with generosity and a joyful heart. We offer this prayer for our priests through Christ our Lord. Amen.
