Ordinary Time 4

“If you are what you should be, you will set the world on fire!”

- St. Catherine of Siena

In loving memory of Fr. Nick Pesanka
(August 30, 1949 - January 21, 2011)

Over the entrance doors of Resurrection Church in Brookline, etched in stone, are the magnificent words, “As I climb to the altar of God, I regain the joys of my youth” (Psalm 43:4).

This past Friday, while visiting with my mother at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Mr. Stanley (“Stush”) Zubik, the father of our bishop, David Zubik, asked me, “Did you hear the news that Fr. Nicholas Pesanka died at 6:00 AM today? He was a classmate of my son's and they were ordained together by Bishop Leonard, on May 3, 1975.” Immediately my thoughts turned to this "bigger than life‟ figure of my childhood days. When I was 13 years old, growing up at SS Simon and Jude in Scott Twp., there was a young, attractive, athletic, muscular and compassionate priest just down the street at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Greentree. Soon I began to attend the 5:00 PM Sunday evening Masses there, and each time I saw him, I said to myself, “I want to be like Fr. Nick.” His "down-to-earth‟ style, his "manly‟ demeanor, his contagious joy and his deep compassion for everyone were qualities that set him apart. The Book of Ecclesiastes says, “Young people, enjoy your youth. Be happy while you are still young. Do what you want to and follow your heart’s desire. But remember that God is going to judge you for whatever you do” (11:9).

Once I became a colleague of his in the fraternity of the priesthood, I marveled that Nick was always "young at heart." He had the innocence of a kid, the strength of a man and the wisdom of a follower of Jesus. His heart's desire was simply to bring Jesus to people and people to Jesus, whether through serving as a youth leader, teaching children in school, playing basketball on a court, playing baseball on a diamond, playing football on a gridiron, or ministering as pastor in a parish. Nick had a competitive spirit in his rigorous weight-lifting workouts, in his commitment to teens through sports and in the Catholic values that were instilled in him. Nick was so fiercely competitive that I believe he'd even knock his own mother down while playing badminton or volleyball! He received his strong faith from his late parents, Irene and Nicholas Pesanka, members of Resurrection Parish in Brookline. During my time serving as chaplain at Mercy Hospital, I recall his mother and father dying a week apart, both on a Friday. So too, Fr. Nick died on a Friday. At their funerals, he spoke on the Beatitudes, especially emphasizing parenthood as a most persecuted vocation.

For my first assignment in May 1988, I was sent to Our Lady of Fatima in Hopewell Twp. I recall a parishioner telling me, “Just remember, you’re not here to replace Fr. Nick; instead you are here to take his space.” The first day I entered his old living quarters. I looked at the walls, and the color of the room was pink; the bathroom was gold. As a newly-ordained priest I was looking for perfection. I asked him, “Do you like the colors of pink and gold?” He simply remarked, “I‟ve not looked at the walls in 7 years.” There were baseball gear (bats, gloves, spikes and balls), posters, trophies, books and countless cards strewn across the floor. I will never forget that on the first day at the parish, he took me to the thirty Communion calls in the parish so that these elderly "home-bound parishioners‟ would see there was a transfer of priests. He wanted them to welcome me. I will never forget that great act of kindness. Day two, a funeral came in and Fr. Nick called to say, “Don't worry about that one, I will cover it for you. I know how it is just getting started, and finding your way in ministry.” (I breathed a bit easier!) I followed in his footsteps by serving as the youth group leader and teaching in the Catholic school. He taught me the intangible importance of witnessing and teaching future generations. I felt his "fingerprints‟ all over that faith community in which I was privileged to succeed his great efforts.

When Fr. Nick went on to serve at St. Wendelin Parish in Carrick, I was glad he was sent closer to home, as he was closely knitted to his siblings, June, Ken, Ron and Mark. His mom's home cooking and motherly correcting continued to color his life. His parents were so proud he had become a priest. His mom painted a beautiful portrait of him -- a keepsake for the family. She served as a cantor and lector at Resurrection Parish (the place of his funeral), and I remember his mom telling him that her neighbors all wanted him to preach for them. In my early years of priesthood, I would often call and share questions and notes with him. He had a degree in Counseling and had keen insights into interpersonal relationships. He held unconditional positive regard for everyone and judged no one. Once while speaking, he told me that young kids had been breaking beer bottles off of the tomb stones at St. Wendelin Cemetery in Carrick. He went out to see them in the middle of the night with his imposing figure and shouted, “The next time you break a bottle over a tombstone, it will be your head!” No one was going to negotiate with him as they fled in fear!

While I was serving at St. Thomas More Parish in Bethel Park from 1992-1996, I occasionally assisted Fr. Nick in taking a Mass at the adjacent parish of St. Germaine. He called me his "runner priest‟ in order to get a break to take a run in South Park, and also to give his people a change of pace. I always enjoyed the spirit of worship and music at that church. The priests will miss his "golf antics‟ -- his sportsmanship, humor, presence and spirit -— at our yearly July golf outing.

It was a very sad day when Fr. Nick, in his early 50's, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Many of us asked, “How could this happen to such a person in the prime and peak of his life, that such a horrifying illness could have stricken him?” It didn't seem fair and it was difficult for us to accept. However, Fr. Nick taught us a profound lesson that we too must willingly accept the challenges, struggles, difficulties, setbacks, disappointments and adversities that life brings. Through our human experience: our loves, work, joys, sorrows, temptations, living and dying, Christ is with us. Even in this "darkness," Fr. Nick let Christ‟s "light‟ shine so beautifully. I am grateful God sent into my path such a committed priest as Fr. Nick. He was focused on his vocation and he allowed the flavors of his interests to enhance his ministry. Perhaps the greatest moment and discovery of our lives is found in our personal vocation from God. For fidelity to our vocation is fidelity to God — the mission and ministry entrusted to us for which we were created is our specific and personal way of giving glory, honor and praise to God through doing His will on earth. And in His will, our peace is found. There was no greater passion in Nick's life than celebrating the sacraments of the Church for God‟s people. Next to his sports page was always his Divine Office, and he would say as he kissed his Breviary, “The Church is a beautiful bride to be married to, and I’m grateful for God’s call and love.”

A priest is called by God and by the Church to serve others, to lead, to witness, to teach, to model, to love, to sacrifice, to suffer and to die for others. 1 Peter 5:4 states, “Be examples to the flock, not lording it over those assigned to you, so that when the Chief Shepherd appears you will win for yourselves the unfading crown of glory.” Fr. Nick was very special -- a real gift, a champion. As we celebrate the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (January 25), we are reminded of the great discipline, witness and conversion it takes to keep our eyes always fixed on Jesus, the Eternal High Priest. May we be comforted and consoled at our loss. May we be comforted and consoled by the words of St. Paul, patron of our Diocese of Pittsburgh and our seminary, “I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Ordinary Time 3

“A strong vocation is based on being possessed by Christ. It means loving him with undivided attention and faithfulness through total selfsurrender through obedience.”

- Mother Teresa

Back from the "Sunshine State" of Florida!

It was wonderful to be away for studies. Don’t we all need "life-long" formation and education? This picture was taken in Naples, Florida, on a pier with fisherman casting their lines as the heavy rains came down. The rains, however, did not seem to deter the fishermen. I thought this image was quite fitting in returning home in preparation for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. It relates the story of two sets of brothers - Simon, who is also called Peter, and Andrew. Along with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, they were all casting their nets into the sea when Jesus called them immediately from their posts and said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:12-23).

In reflection, I am eternally grateful to God for the mysterious call and invitation that He has given me through my vocation of the priesthood. And in answering that call, I in turn help others answer His call in their lives. After almost 23 years of casting the "line into the waters," I have learned many lessons. Even through the ups and downs, the successes and the failures, the joys and the trials, God certainly purifies the minister. He challenges us to become holy and humble. We are called to be available, accountable and vulnerable.

Perhaps there are several stages of transformation in diving deeper in the spiritual life. The first step is human effort. Through the willingness to accept the invitation of Christ, we undertake the service of ministry and live in relationships that are "netted together" by Christ’s grace and love. In the second step, like all who have answered the call - whether Isaiah, Samuel, Peter, Andrew, James or John - we feel inadequate, unworthy, and unprepared. Inevitably, we experience failure, which may be real or apparent, private or public. Do we scold or affirm others? The third stage is the triumph of grace. One cannot predict it and one cannot demand it. Perhaps St. Paul’s formula offers the greatest source of strength for all of us when he writes, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (1 Cor 4:10). While at the Bethany Center in Lutz, Florida, I had the opportunity and privilege to speak with Bishop Robert Lynch who has served in the St. Petersburg Diocese since 1996. He told me that he himself was a "delayed vocation." It took a long time for him to answer God’s call.

After a fulfilling and renewing time together in the "Sunshine State," it was good to see sun, light, water, boats, fishermen, and various friends. I left Lutz and traveled to St. Petersburg to stay with Janet and Ken Cotton who will celebrate 50 years of marriage in June of 2011. This couple printed my ordination invitations in May of 1988. They are "snow birds" from my home parish of SS. Simon and Jude in Scott Twp. Their son, Eric, is a radiologist in Tampa and their daughter, Kristen, lives in Orlando. During the winter months they get to see their grandchildren. It looked like they spent days preparing for my arrival along with a priest friend of mine from Chicago, Fr. Gerry Rogala -- although I only stayed one day! I was intrigued that Janet had all the ingredients for my morning smoothies and even had a smoothie machine! By the way, in Florida, there is a place called, “Planet Smoothie.” (I am a smoothie fanatic now!) They wrapped enough goodies to send us south 137 miles to Estero, Florida. There, we visited Lynette and Kevin Powers, married on October 15, 1977, and parishioners in my first parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Hopewell Twp.

Thank God for the GPS System to keep us in line. When we arrived at the Powers’ home we were greeted with a large Steelers banner. Immediately I felt at home as the Steelers kick-off was just 4 hours away. They own three cats and I prayed to St. Francis the whole time I was there! The time spent at the Powers’ was a "football fest" in the clubhouse across the street from their home. My brother, Dan who lives in Greensboro, NC flew in to Pittsburgh to stay at the rectory and visited Mom while he was here. He attended the Steelers/Ravens exciting 31-24 victory last Saturday.

Last Sunday I attended Our Lady of Light Catholic Church served by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, and would you believe there were 1,100 people at the 8:30 AM Mass? (We only average 900 in all four Masses here at St. Joseph.) Let me tell you that my mouth was wide open and I was salivating! Above the altar were 12 lights for the twelve tribes of Israel in the Old Testament and another 12 lights for the apostles in the New Testament. We had a pregnant cantor who was due in early February singing the praise and the glory of God. As January 22nd marks the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, (1973) and Monday is the March for Life in Washington, DC, it was a powerful witness and testimony of a tribute to Life, with a pregnant women standing and leading our congregation in song. The capacity of Our Lady of Light Church is 1,500 people. It was most inspiring to see the large number of people in ministries. I liked their Mission Statement which read, “We, the People of Our Lady of Light Catholic Community embrace the call to Live Jesus. As a Catholic Community, we strive to grow personally and with one another. Through prayer, worship, and faith formation, and acts of community service, we continue Jesus’ mission, guided by the Holy Spirit.” It calls us to be "people of light."

We then traveled 5.7 miles to Bonita Springs, FL to visit Chuck and Louise Muzik. Louise served as secretary for 35 years at St. Malachy Church in Kennedy Township. They have been married 54 years. While waiting in Southwest Florida International Airport in Ft. Myers, a lady came up to me and inquired, “Are you Fr. Rich who served at St. Thomas More in Bethel Park?” I said, “Yes, and now I’m happy to be heading home to St. Joseph Church in Coraopolis.”

As I was on the capacity-filled plane en route to Pittsburgh, I reflected on the three couples I stayed with while in Florida, whose years of marriage total 138. I was grateful for their generous hospitality, goodness and kindness shown as a visitor. I am happy that my brother, Dan and wife, Kelly, will fly in this Sunday to attend the Steelers/Jets game. Go Steelers!

Ordinary Time 2

“The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there.”

- George Bernard Shaw

I am presently away (January 9-14) for continuing education at Bethany Retreat Center in Lutz, FL near Tampa. Twice a year I go away, searching for new roadmaps, insights, visions and dreams. In doing so, I seek to reclaim the treasure of the gift of faith and believing. During this Winter Institute, 35 priests will attend from 12 different states. Two brother priests from our Diocese of Pittsburgh -- Fr. Joseph Grosko and Fr. John Vojtek -- will be present. It is good to be together for fraternal support, prayer and formation. Sharing a meal, enjoying the sunshine for a walk or telling stories relating our ministry, helps to widen and strengthen our own experience. In any professional walk of life, one must stay current and abreast to life-long learning, life-long training and life-long formation. If we are not continually formed and reformed we run the danger of “malpractice," which literally means “practicing badly." Two of my brother siblings who are doctors tell me that every month they are required to take tests to keep updated via the computer.

In May 2011, I will celebrate my 23rd year in the priesthood. There has been no single greater influence and impact on my priestly life than the International Institute for Clergy Formation out of Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. This program’s founder and director was the late Msgr. Andy Cusack, a 6'7" giant and visionary, originally from the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT. He was the Director of Formation at Immaculate Conception Seminary from 1993-2002. He acquired a PhD in Counseling Psychology from St. John’s University. He was a spiritual director and taught Counseling, Psychology and Homiletics at the seminary. Msgr. Cusack died in January of 2004. Msgr. Cusack founded the Summer Institute in 1987 when I served as a deacon at St. Alphonsus Parish in Springdale, PA. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this continuing education program for priests, both home and abroad. I have attended almost every Summer and Winter Institute to help remain renewed, refreshed, rekindled and revitalized in my priestly vocation. I am eternally indebted to the pioneer and founder, Msgr. Cusack, for seeing the need for human formation, spiritual formation, intellectual formation, interpersonal formation, psychological formation and prayer formation. He put together all the components that Pope John Paul II wrote in Pastores Vobis Dobis, “I will give you Shepherds after my own Heart." Although this towering figure was called home at the age of 71, his presence looms large in my priestly walk and discipleship with the Lord. The qualities of his generosity, graciousness, hospitality, vision, wisdom, prayer and spirit were unmatched.

Some of the speakers for this Winter Institute include:

• Fr. William Burton, OFM -- “Understanding St. Matthew’s Gospel Readings for Preachers”
• Fr. William J. Byron, SJ -- “Listening Receptively and Leading Gently”
• Fr. Vincent Fortunato, OFM will give a spiritual direction workshop. This will include prayer, spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, spiritual discernment and supervision of spiritual directors.
• Fr. David Toups, STD's theme “Priestly Character and Identity,” will examine sacramental character, post-Conciliar priesthood, core identity and priestly principles.

I treasure this special time away in order to better tend to my garden. In the new year all of us are looking for resolutions to make marked improvements to enhance and enrich the well being of our lives and the lives of others. Through the years I have found it critically important, like Jesus, to take time away to renew, refresh and regroup in order not to lose the luster of the gold of faith entrusted to me. When I was a child I worked at Marian Manor Nursing Home in Greentree with an 80-year-old man in the greenhouse. I fondly remember this man, Mr. Lawson, who tended with great diligence and devotion to the greenhouse. He told me that if we don’t take care of the plants in Winter, the home won’t look beautiful in the Spring. He inspired me to sell seeds around my neighborhood from Lancaster, PA, to help our neighbors’ gardens grow. This precious time in winter in the “Sunshine State” of Florida plants new seeds of hope, promise and expectation of a new life. I end with thoughts of a life-long friend of mine whom I met at the International Institute, Bishop Robert Morneau, Auxiliary Bishop of Green Bay, to help all of you to tend your own gardens in the year 2011.

The 12 Gardens of Stewardship

1. Garden of the Body -- Get proper nutrition, exercise and rest; avoid chemical abuse, smoking, and in our culture, obesity.
2. Garden of the Soul -- Cultivate a prayer life.
3. Garden of Family & Friends -- Take the time to nurture relationships with those important to you.
4. Garden of the Globe -- Care for the environment; recycle; don’t waste natural resources.
5. Garden of Emotions -- Aim for a balance emotionally; work at being in good humor.
6. Garden of the “Polis” -- Be politically aware; be an informed and involved citizen, and vote; attend community meetings.
7. Garden of the Mind -- Keep learning.
8. Garden of Decisions -- Make well-informed choices; work toward understanding and consensus; keep the vision and mission of Jesus in mind.
9. Garden of Technology -- Use technology for good purposes.
10. Garden of History -- Know and value the things of the past; keep lessons of history fresh in the mind.
11. Garden of the Arts -- Listen to, read and watch the best in books, music, movies, theater, artwork, radio, TV.
12. Garden of Money -- Use financial resources well; set and keep a budget; set spending limits; ask how much money is enough.

Baptism of the Lord

“As the Magi from the East followed their star and found Jesus, who filled their hearts with boundless joy, let us too, even in hours of uncertainty, of shadows, of darkness like those the Magi had, not fail to follow that star, the star of our faith.”

— Archbishop Oscar Romero

Several people have requested a copy of my Epiphany homily from last Sunday.

Happy New Year! In Pope Benedict XVI plans to make four foreign trips: 1) He will visit Croatia, June 4-5. 2) He will travel to Madrid, Spain, August 18-21, to preside over World Youth Day celebration. 3) He will visit his native Germany for the third time, September 22-25. 4) The Pope will make his second trip to Africa, to Benin, a small country in West Africa, where Catholics make up about 30% of the population and Muslims about 25%. At the age of 83, the 265th successor of St. Peter, this Vicar of Christ on earth, is not resting on his laurels.

I recall as a child growing up at Sts. Simon and Jude Parish in Scott Twp., that our pastor, Fr. Thomas F. Carey, had a tradition during the Christmas season of driving around the neighborhood of the streets of his parish to see the glow of the Christmas lights. He often reminded us that he prayed his parishioners would bring light to the world in the new year, rather than cast the shadow of darkness. I respect and admire his sage advise. At the close of today‟s Mass, the altar servers will provide an Epiphany blessing for the home at along with a piece of chalk. With the chalk, the inscription "20+C+M+B+11," the initials of the three Magi, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, are written between the year in which the blessing occurred over the entrance to the home. The letters also stand for the Latin phrase, “Christus benedicat mansionem,” which means, “Christ, bless this home.”

I would love to be able to get to the 1550 households of St. Joseph Parish, but realized this isn't possible or realistic. Nonetheless, I pray that every time you enter and exit your home, you bring the light of Christ to the world each day of the year 2011. The motto of the Christophers says it well: “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” However small our personal vocation, a single Christ-bearer can have a significant impact on the lives of others. Epiphany in Greek means “a showing," “manifestation," “revelation,” or “self-disclosure." Through the guidance of a star, the Wise Men, the Magi, are brought to the place of the birth of the Messiah-King. The Epiphany story takes place in two different locals: the great city of Jerusalem and the village of Bethlehem. These two cities are about nine miles apart but light-years away in opulence and prestige. St. Matthew begins his Gospel in Jerusalem, a city of wealth and power, of ambition and prosperity, of arrogance and pretension. Bethlehem is South of Jerusalem and is equivalent to a bus depot or train-station where merchants and travelers stop for a meal, change horses or camels, or spend the night while on the way to their far more important and profitable places. Bethlehem is “Nowheresville” and “No Man‟s Land.” It is a place for the poor, the humble and unimportant. Yet in this most hidden place, the Magi find the Messiah. Like the Magi, in whatever the age, culture, civilization, or nation, people are all always searching for God. If our new year‟s resolution does not include getting closer to God and one another, I believe it is defective from God‟s will for our lives.

Our responsorial psalm today, Psalm 72, says, “Lord, let all the nations of the earth adore You!” Jesus is for all nations. Salvation is for the entire globe. The scope of Jesus' love and dream is for all peoples -- Jews, Muslims, Gentiles, Born-again, Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc. None has a monopoly and no one is excluded from God's revelation manifested in Jesus Christ. In Christ all barriers will fall. We are all on a spiritual odyssey, a spiritual journey. From the darkness of our mother's womb to the darkness of death's tomb, the mystery of life is enlightened by the grace of faith, "the invisible eye of the soul." According to tradition of St. Ireneaus of Lyons (135-202), the gifts that the Wise Men presented had great significance:

1) Gold: Gold symbolizes kingship. It represents eternity because it doesn't tarnish. This was fitting for the Infant King whose reign is without end. As we journey through life, we must treasure the gold of our faith. A man recently told me his daughter won $100,000 in a lottery. She called him at 3:00 AM to share this "good news." Would we take such delight in sharing the gold of our faith at anytime of the day, on any given day?

2) Frankincense: Frankincense represents Christ's divinity. Frankincense is a precious resin symbolizing worship. Today we use incense before proclaiming the holy Gospel to make fragrant smoke as a sign of our prayer rising before God. It represents the "spiritual life.‟ It is the acknowledgement of the divinity of Jesus, the Word made flesh. St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:15 says the call of a Christian is to be the aroma of Christ.

3) Myrrh: Myrrh was a practical gift, an expensive gift, used in embalming bodies. It's still used medically today in tincture as an anti-bacterial and pain-relieving agent. This fitting gift of myrrh signified that Christ would die and be buried for the mortal human race. His victimhood is the healing ointment soothing the sufferings of humanity.

At the threshold of a new year, it is good to take stock and reflect upon the gifts we have been given by God -- our talents and abilities, the opportunities presented to us; the loved one's around us whose inspirations and encouragements we receive, and all the resources we have at our disposals. Do we respect and value each person we meet? Do we show love and act justly with everyone? Is our hope fixed on a better life in this world, but also fixed on the life to come. Is the path we are traveling leading us to God? Is our goal to “follow Jesus” and “become Jesus?” May the light of faith guide our footsteps in 2011 and beyond.