John the Baptist: Harbinger of Light

“Becoming a father is easy enough; but being one can be tough.”

- Wilhelm Busck (1832-1908)

Recently while I was at the Little Sisters of the Poor, I was speaking with Bishop Zubik’s father, Stanley Zubik, affectionately known as “Stush.” I usually stop in his room after visiting Mom and share my world with him, updating him on my weekly itinerary, such as worldly events, Diocesan happenings, parish activities, and family news. He especially enjoys friendly banter about the Pittsburgh sports teams. He regularly gives me newspaper clippings from articles he thinks are good including ones by my favorite author, Bishop Bob Morneau, from “The Compass,” a Catholic paper in Green Bay, WI. I told him that I would be travelling to Mt. St. Mary Seminary for a retreat this week, and he spoke of the spiritual giant in his own life for whom he was named, Msgr. Stanislaus R. Labujewski, commonly called “Msgr. Labbie.”

For over 5 decades the Monsignor served Ambridge as the pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish for a total of 56 years. Wow! To be a priest for 56 years is itself a miracle, but to serve only one flock is amazing. He knew all the stories of countless generations and was in fact, a spiritual father, mentor, guide, teacher, and exemplary role model. His life was entwined with people of various ages and was rich and fulfilling. They knew him, and he knew them. There is a towering monument in Good Samaritan Cemetery in Ambridge atop the mountainside depicting Christ, the Good Shepherd tending his sheep. That monument stands as a tribute to the Msgr. Labbie, buried there, whose steady, constant, faithful fatherhood planted imperishable and incorruptible seeds that nourished spiritual life, growth and maturity. When you enter you cannot help but see this tall monument of a towering person who has graced so many generations. Here, the shepherd lies in eternal rest among those he served in life, his very own sheep. So, both in life and in death they are wedded together as they walked as God’s children seeking to do His will on earth.

As I go to the “Mount” this week, I will visit the cemetery and pay my respects to Fr. Thomas J. Byrd, a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, who taught me homiletics. He was laid to rest there in 2000. He would always say, “Gentlemen, remember you only have 7 minutes in your homily to make them laugh cry and feel religious. The more you do that, the more they will be touched by God’s grace, presence and love.”

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity, the birthday, of St. John the Baptist, the prophet who foretold the coming of Christ. He is one of my favorite saints. He tops the list. I like him because he was an important person in salvation’s history and knew his place. He was the last of the Old Testament prophets and the first of the New Testament — a bridge builder — and was in many ways, outstanding. He was a prophet, a preacher, a disciple and a martyr. John didn’t try to impress or pretend to be important. He didn’t sugar-coat anything. His candor and direct style prepared the way of the Lord. “Too much honey is bad for you and so is trying to win too much praise” (Proverbs 25:27).

His birth coincides with the summer solstice which, this year, is celebrated on June 20 in the Northern Hemisphere. Solstice comes from 2 Latin words -- “sol” meaning sun and “stitium” meaning to stand still. It’s the time of the year when the sun is at the greatest distance from the equator. It is the time when it appears that the sun has stopped moving and is higher in the sky, thus the daylight time is the longest and the nighttime is the shortest. After this zenith point of the solstice, the daytime light begins to decrease as we draw closer to the birthday of Christ on December 25.

Things seem brighter on the inner landscape of our lives when we are surrounded by light. Summer is a season of light and we are called to witness to the Light. As a hospital chaplain for many years, I was amazed at how many people waited for the first streams of daylight as a welcoming of brighter hope. When we share the light of other believers, it brightens the path of faith.

John the Baptist is more than an “Advent prophet.” In all 4 of the Gospels, John is seen as the “best man” and not the bridegroom. He is a herald not the “main event.” John is a “voice” not the Word. John was a signpost to direct people — not to himself, but to the One coming after him. John baptizes with water, Jesus with the Holy Spirit. John points the way to Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose coming brings light to all the nations. When we believe in Jesus we are freed from the discouragement of spiritual paralysis by being freed from sin — the cause of all evil. Jesus frees us from sin, selfishness, and death. For the Jewish people, the lamb is primarily the Passover lamb, the ultimate symbol of freedom. John harkens and summons us to repentance and belief in Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

How well do we prepare the way of the Lord by pointing others to Christ? Each of us must be a signpost on the journey leading others in the right direction by the good choices that we make. “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (Proverbs 20:30). John teaches us the great lesson of humility. Christ must increase, and sin and selfishness must decrease in us. John the Baptist proclaimed, regarding Jesus and himself: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30).

There is a continuous call to conversion in every season of our lives. We are to follow in John’s footsteps and prepare the way for Christ by burning brightly with the love of God as we celebrate John’s birth. May his birth bring blessings to our discipleship. May you enjoy all the blessings summer affords!

Prayer for Summer Blessings

Creator of all, thank You for summer! Thank You for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight. Thank You for the beauty I see all round me and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation. Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family, and for the more casual pace of the summer season. Draw me closer to You this summer. Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing. Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence, and light my path with Your Word and Counsel. As I enjoy Your creation, create in me a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You.

- Unknown

Sewing Seeds in Every Generation

“A father is respected because he gives his children leadership...appreciated because he gives his children care...valued because he gives his children time...loved because he gives his children the one thing they treasure most, himself.”

—Anonymous

I’ll never forget in the Fall of 1984 driving to Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary for the first time with my family. After making our way through the Catoctin Mountains whose windy roads never seem to end, we finally arrived at the remote country town of Emmitsburg, MD (just 12 miles away from Gettysburg, PA). As we unpacked the car with the help of the seminarians, my dad, completely worn out by the trip, remarked, “I hope you like it here because I’m not coming back!” Dad was certainly correct. Within a year and a half, the Lord called him home, and he never did make that trip again. But Dad was happy that my brother Dan was just down the road in Hershey the at Penn State Medical School, knowing that we had one another.

The word “seminary” literally means “seed bed” — a place to foster new life, new promise and to spiritually cultivate the soul by plowing through selfish desires in order to yield to God’s transforming grace for the unfolding of His plan. During my childhood years, my parents helped develop our faith, planting the seeds for greater growth. After prayer, discernment and surrendering to God’s will, the Spirit led me to a greater formation training at the seminary.

The more I reflect upon my years in the seminary, the more I understand the nature of growth itself. Growth is an imperceptible process. Sometimes in our spiritual lives, we feel discouraged. God’s will is not always so clear or evident. We may struggle with the same sins, temptations, weaknesses and dryness in prayer. However, God’s grace continues to grow within us. But just like a seed planted in the earth, it’s a hidden growth. This hiddenness summons us to trust more in God and do His work as we wait patiently for His action. We can learn from the mustard seed, the smallest seed in Palestine. A farmer has great faith in this seed, that it will grow and bear great fruit. So too, the Kingdom of God is brought forth from the most ordinary, mundane, common realities of daily life. And even though we don’t think we have a great harvest — God still trusts us to cultivate with care and sacrifice the plot of earth He has placed in our care.

It is in that spirit that I return today, on this Father's Day, back to “Mary’s Mountain” to make my annual priestly retreat at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary. The retreat master will be Fr. Brett A. Brannen, a priest of the Diocese of Savannah, GA, who was in the seminary during my time. A retreat is a time to hear the call of God once again after many years. In an oftentimes noisy, busy and fast-paced society, a retreat almost seems as an escape rather than what is essential to meeting life head-on. But a retreat is a time to pause, reflect, relax, rest and renew in the Lord, and thus better serve the Lord. As my brother Dan and his wife go to the beach for a summer vacation, I ascend to Mary’s Mountain to give thanks for the calling God has given me in the ministry He has entrusted to my care and the garden He wants me to help cultivate. I look forward to being with brother priests from around the United States to share our experiences of ministry after having worked hard in the vineyard to share a meal, camaraderie and the bond of the Eucharist together. We learn from one another and this exchange is invaluable to greater maturity.

The word “vocation” comes from the Latin word “vocare” meaning “to call.” Throughout the Bible God calls frequently. This election or calling is a personal summons to respond in faith. It’s walking with courage and giving witness. It is a growth process. A vocation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. But we must work on answering the call throughout a lifetime. It must be nourished. A call is also not a private call but a gift for others — to share with others, to encourage others, to help others and to live our faith each day. Even when we stumble and fall and to rise up again. It’s in difficult times that we really grow the most.

There is a towering figure at Mt. St. Mary’s for whom the library is named after, Msgr. Hugh J. Philips. And atop the cemetery, there is towering monument in his sacred memory. This man came to this campus in his sixth grade as a student and remained there for more than eight decades, leaving this world, and the Mount, at age 97. He taught theology and Church history at Emmitsburg School and was a professor of philosophy and psychology at St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg. He also taught Medical Ethics at Catholic University. Msgr. Philips was in many ways the spirit of Mt. St. Mary’s. He was the 19th president of the college. He later became an archivist and the college library was named after him in 1995. He was the director and chaplain of the Shrine. He was responsible for all the renovations for the Our Lady Lourdes Grotto there. Today, over 100,000 visitors come to this quiet spiritual sanctuary that he so faithfully tended to and cared for all the years of his life.

As I head for the mountains for a retreat, I take with me all the faces, names and graces that I have received throughout this blessed vocation that God has entrusted to me. Msgr. Hugh Philips is a larger than life figure at Mt. St. Mary’s. His name is on buildings, written in history books and touched by those who knew and walked with him. He’s in the hearts that he’s left behind. Like the parable of the mustard seed, true greatness grows in smallness. It is the small imperceptible things of life that help us and others to grow. I was always inspired by this man’s dedication, commitment and love, to make this small town a large center of faith formation. Although my dad only made it to this mountain once, his spirit makes me soar to new heights as I continue to serve the Lord. Never underestimate the presence and the power of a father’s influence in one’s life. Wishing all fathers our respect, our appreciation and our prayers.

Happy Father’s Day!

The Cup of Life Outpoured

“Without the Holy Eucharist, there would be no happiness in this world, and life wouldn’t be bearable.”

— St. John Mary Vianney

If you’re an early riser, maybe you caught the Mass at 6:00 AM on PCNC Sunday morning, which I celebrated for today’s Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). I’m grateful to the lectors, servers, and Ginny Ambrose and the choir from our parish who assisted me for this celebration, and especially for the shut-ins who tuned in to watch. I spoke in my homily during the broadcast about how grateful I was that while in the hospital I was able to view this Mass when I was sick.

While in the hospital, I knew as the sun was coming up in the morning, inevitably the phlebotomist would come in to draw my blood each day. She mentioned that so very much is known about a person by their blood — their heart rate, their blood pressure, iron levels, oxygen, hormonal imbalances, cholesterol, white blood cell and red blood cell counts, disease… all can be known through this fluid which is the life support of the body. Even before surgery you have to have blood drawn so that an ample supply of your type can be on hand for use during the procedure.

Blood carries the very “stuff” of life. When one hemorrhages, or there is a loss of blood through an accident, life goes out. In reminding us that the function of blood is as a carrier of nutrients of our complex immune systems, modern hematology enhances our understanding of blood as the very “stuff” of life.

Blood is also the sign of life. The ancient Israelites saw blood as the ratification of the covenant with God. As Moses splashed the blood of animals on the altar, he represented God walking through their midst, and as he sprinkled the people, he represented the people becoming a sacred nation consecrated to the Lord. The sprinkling of blood of animals was a promised relationship between God and the people — a sharing of life, divine and human. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood as a reminder that all life belongs to God. The significance of blood finds it perfection in Jesus’ sacrifice, as in the book of Hebrews we are reminded that Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary not with the blood of animals but with His own Blood that brought about our redemption providing cleansing from sin and access to God. Jesus on the night before He died said those sacred words, “This is my Blood of the Covenant which will be shed for many.”

At the Mass on television I held up my wooden chalice that I have used for twenty-four years since my ordination. I chose wood to remind me of the sacrifice of the Cross that Christ poured out in love to save us. And I mentioned in my reflection what a humble and sacred privilege it is to celebrate for God’s people the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I pray that I may celebrate every Mass as if it were my first Mass, my last Mass and my only Mass. This wondrous feast of Corpus Christi makes us reflect on God’s inestimable gift of the Eucharist and pray that we always receive the Eucharist frequently, reverently, prayerfully and worthily. Jesus’ shedding of the blood is our “paschal” or “passing over” of death. In the history of salvation God uses death to bring new life. So while the broken Body and shed Blood of Christ commemorates His death, it also celebrates His gift of life. Jesus’ sacrifice becomes a gift. His defeat becomes our victory. His weakness is our strength. His brokenness is our healing. His Eucharist is our blessing.

In three weeks, Bishop Zubik will ordain three men as priests for our diocese: Kevin Fazio, Frederick Gruber, Michael Sedor. In that most ancient rite the priest kneels down before the bishop and receives a paten with hosts on it and a chalice for the celebration of the Mass. As the new priest kneels there the bishop then says, “Accept from the holy people of God the gifts to be offered to Him. Know what you are doing, and imitate the mystery you celebrate; model your life on the mystery of the Lord’s cross.” I pray that I will always hunger to celebrate this Sacrament that I have been ordained to offer for the holy People of God. How privileged, how honored we Catholics are to be invited to Jesus’ Supper, to receive His Body and Blood, to renew His dying and rising from the dead, in order to save us and lead us to eternal glory. Yet it’s all too easy for us to take the Eucharist for granted, the Mass for granted, and think, “Same old hymns, same old sermon, same old prayers, same old people, ho hum.” Today’s celebration and every celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ are our wake-up calls to realize just what a mind-boggling, soul stirring, heart throbbing, spirit raising gift we are given in every Mass, time after time. Let’s not talk about our “Sunday obligation” — let’s talk about our “Sunday Privilege!” Thank You Jesus! Thank You Jesus! Praise the Lord!

There are beautiful prayers in the Roman Missal that a priest can offer in preparation for Mass and thanksgiving after Mass. I’d like to share one with you by St. Thomas Aquinas on this special feast of Corpus Christi:

Almighty Eternal God, behold, I come to this Sacrament of Your only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as one sick to the Physician of Life, as one unclean to the Fountain of Mercy, as one blind to the Light of Eternal Brightness, as one poor to the Lord of Heaven and Earth. I ask, therefore, for the abundance of Your immense generosity, that You may graciously cure my sickness, wash away my defilement, give light to my blindness, enrich my poverty, clothe my nakedness, so that I may receive the Bread of Angels, the King of kings and Lord of lords, with such reverence and humility, such contrition and devotion, such purity and faith, such purpose and intention, as are conducive to the salvation of my soul.

Grant, I pray, that I may receive not only this Sacrament of the Lord’s Body and Blood, but also the reality and power of that Sacrament.

Oh most Gentle God, grant that I may so receive the Body of Your only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which took from the Virgin Mary, that I may be worthy to be incorporated into His Mystical Body and to be counted among its members.

Oh Most Loving Father, grant that I may at last gaze forever upon the unveiled Face of Your Beloved Son, whom I a wayfarer propose to receive now, veiled under these species; Who lives and reigns with You forever and ever. Amen.

Trinity: A Relationship of Love

“The high might of the Trinity is our father, and the deep wisdom of the Trinity is our mother, and the great love of the Trinity is our Lord.”

- St. Julian of Norwich

After celebrating the 8:00 AM Mass on Memorial Day I took a six-mile run on the Montour Trail. It was great to see everybody out bicycling, fishing, walking and running. Even the sounds of gunfire on the rifle range sounded good this Memorial Day! I had received many invitations for picnics, pool parties and parades. However, sometimes I prefer the down-time and the quiet to take in the higher meaning of the day, namely to remember the great sacrifices of those who served our nation, to bless them and their families and honor the heroism given for America’s freedom. While I was running (albeit keeping a slower pace since my surgery), there was a man bicycling with three little girls towed behind in a small carriage. I thought to myself that to tow one is work, to tow two is a chore, but to tow three is love! Seeing this sight reminded me of the family of God, a Trinity of Love.

Any holiday would be incomplete without a visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor to see Mom. As I walked down the corridor of the hall leading to her unit called “Our Lady of Perpetual Help," I was met by three staff members who frantically told me the news, “Mrs. Jones is missing.” We reconnoitered each room and closet, on the inside and outside of the nursing home. Even the Mother Superior, Sr. Judy Merideth, was searching high and low for Mom. We looked in such places as the greenhouse, the laundry room, the doctors’ offices, therapy rooms, residents’ rooms and lavatories. There were even sisters searching the halls on their motorized scooters.

I went to the second floor accompanied by Brandy, an RN who told me many good stories about Mom. There were security and maintenance men who diligently searched the hillsides around the area in 90 degree heat. Volunteers went through the cars in the parking lot that surrounded the building. Familiar faces and strangers alike went through the outlying areas of the home to look for her, remembering that she wore the patriotic colors of the day: red, white and blue. I even looked in the reconciliation rooms in the chapel, and even Bishop Zubik’s dad, Stanley, helped in the search. This would be one Memorial Day I would not soon forget.

All I could think of was that I hoped Mom was someplace in the cool air-conditioned home after the holiday picnic lunch was over, and not in the oppressive heat of the outdoors. I went up to the choir loft in the chapel, which was sweltering, to hear the residents praying the rosary below. As they prayed, I thought of Blessed Charles de Foucauld who said, “At times of sadness, say your rosary.” I thought about Jesus, who was lost from His own parents, only to be found in the Temple, and also the story of the one lost sheep, one lost coin, and one lost son (Luke 15). Then I thought about what it might be like to have a missing child or even a pet. But in this case it was a missing mother, who, due to her dementia was defenseless and helpless.

I found consolation as I listened to God’s people praying and I joined them in a decade of the rosary in the hope that, through the intercession of the Blessed Mother Mary, Sr. Jean Jugan, the founder of the Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Joseph, our Patron and St. Anthony, Mom would be found.

After a long two and a half hour pursuit I was ready to make a missing persons report with the police to broaden the scope of the search before the nighttime darkness set in. I went back into the chapel to pray for the third time. Upon coming out, I looked at the picture of Pope Benedict XVI and Bishop Zubik and heard the good news that Mom had been found. She had scampered down Benton Avenue only to take an abrupt fall at the corner of Benton and Parviss Street, near the Rite-Aid (almost 3/10 of a mile from Little Sisters). Paramedics were called and she was on her way to Allegheny General Hospital.

Along with our Pastoral Associate, Jim Crable, I flew down to AGH as fast as any ambulance could travel. There I learned that she had been given a CAT scan. She had lacerations on her face and hands, as well as a broken nose. Through puffy and swollen eyes, she spotted me and exclaimed, “Richard, my son! I’m glad you’re here to see me!” I immediately took out my pastoral care book and anointed her with the Sacrament of the Sick. The Chaplain of the Little Sisters, Fr. John A. Geinzer, soon descended upon the room, making the sign of the cross over her forehead and shoulders.

My sister, Patty and her husband Chuck, who had been celebrating their 34th wedding anniversary, arrived and their presence was a great relief to me. They stayed there with Mom until she was moved into a room. As I stood in the emergency room witnessing trauma after trauma on this holiday weekend, I thought to myself that accidents and tragedies occur irrespective of the day. As I stood at the triage desk, I read a sign offering an interpreter for those who spoke various languages: Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, French, Spanish, German, Korean, Arabic, Hebrew. I said to the intake person, “You are missing one from your list—the one for those who cannot speak at all, and such is the case with Mom.”

On April 29, the Little Sisters of the Poor celebrated their 140th Anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving. I was happy to see a picture in the Pittsburgh Catholic last week of residents of the Little Sisters of the Poor along with Bishop Winter celebrating that anniversary. One of the residents in the picture was Mom. A parishioner laminated that picture for me and it is hanging on our refrigerator now. Our prayers were answered, and Mom is back where she belongs in the home of the Little Sisters of the Poor.

On this Solemnity of The Most Holy Trinity, we recall the words of Moses in the book of Deuteronomy 4: 39-40 to the Israelite people, “You must keep God’s statutes and commandments, which I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land, which the Lord, your God, is giving you forever.” As Moses reminded the Israelites that God had chosen them for a special mission and destiny, so too, Jesus gives the Great Commission to his disciples on the mountain where he had summoned them to make disciples of all the nations, wherever they went and to baptize them in the fullness of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28: 16-20).

Holy Spirit, Holy Gifts

"Holy Spirit of Truth, You are the Reward of the saints, the Comforter of souls, Light in the darkness, Riches to the poor, Treasure to lovers, Food for the hungry, Comfort to those who are wondering; to sum up, You are the One in whom all treasures are contained.” — St. Mary Magdelene di Pazzi

I recall during my days as hospital chaplain at Mercy (1996-2000), that I was called to the room to anoint a dying brother priest and listen to his confession. He was in his mid-fifties and had been through countless physical trials: a six-by-pass surgery, amputation of both legs, diabetes, kidney failure, dialysis, hearing loss, poor vision, and many other complications. I had visited him many, many times. After listening to his confession and anointing him that day, I asked him, “Is there any regret that you have in your life?” I was struck by his candor and humility when he replied, “I regret that I am not closer to Jesus at this point of my life as I should have been or I could have been.”

He died shortly after and I attended his funeral. His family was ever-so grateful and the following week they came to see me at Mercy and gave me many things from his wardrobe (namely clerical shirts, suits and pants.) They mentioned that I was about the same size as he and would I accept them in his sacred memory. I was touched by this gesture and still to this day, every time I wear a garment of his, feel his gentle spirit with me.

Today, the fiftieth day of Easter, the Church celebrates the feast of Pentecost, the day on which the Holy Spirit, or Paraclete, descended upon the Apostles and Mary. “Paraclete” literally means, “He who is called to one’s side” (Latin, “ad vocatus”). “Advocate” comes from this root and means consoler and healer. Pentecost was originally one of the three great Jewish feasts, one in which the Jews traveled in pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Pentecost (Greek, “the fiftieth day”) also called “Weeks” or “Shavuot” came fifty days after Passover, and celebrated the Spring grain harvest and the offering of the first fruits. Later it became the day of celebration in remembrance of God’s giving of the Law or Torah on Mt. Sinai.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: “On the day of Pentecost, when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ’s Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine Person; Of His fullness, Christ, the Lord, pours out the Holy Spirit in abundance” (731). We recall this event in the third glorious mystery, the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. Thus Pentecost is the Church’s Birthday; a time of renewal, re-creation and re-commitment to sharing the gifts we have been given for the gift of mission and ministry.

The best way we show our appreciation for the gifts God has given to us is to receive them graciously and to use them generously. If your gift is to sing, then sing. If your gift is to preach, then preach. If your gift is to work with the youth, be a good example. If your gift is to be a missionary, serve the poor. If your gift is computers, make good use of technology. If your gift is to listen, everyone has a story to share. If your gift is to write, share your wisdom. If your gift is to heal, soothe another’s hurt. If your gift is to build, create something beautiful. If your gift is to teach, inspire others. If your gift is to sew, cover another with love. If your gift is to coach, bring out the best in others. If your gift is to pray, be a prayer warrior. If your gift is to forgive, show the importance of letting go. If your gift is to be a friend, give the world a smile. If your gift is to volunteer, serve others joyfully. If your gift is to flip a burger, pour a drink or spin a wheel, serve at our festival!

It is important to discern the gifts that God has given to us and it is important that we don’t stay for any length of time out of our gifted area like a fish out of water. The Catechism tells us, “The Holy Spirit, whom Christ the Head pours out on His members, builds, animates and sanctifies the Church” (747).

It is easy to spot a person who is filled with spirit. School spirit, team spirit, family spirit, work spirit, community spirit, patriotic spirit, etc. — all are examples of acting with passion. As we journey through life our spirits can be extinguished and dampened by darkness and sin. The coals of our devotedness to piety, charity, gentleness, self-control and the fruits of the Holy Spirit, need to be rekindled anew. As followers of Christ, the Lord sends forth the Holy Spirit so that God’s people will be set on fire for Him, and use our gifts and talents for the good of everyone in order to give honor and glory to God.

The embers of our passion must be set aglow through a vital life of prayer, sacrifice and service. The heart of our ministry and mission and message must be the explosive power that the Holy Spirit unites us, heals divisions and curbs our self-centered tendencies to work, to build and to grow as His holy people. Never underestimate the power of the Spirit to breathe new life into our heats and souls!

Come Holy Spirit

Replace the tension within us with a holy relaxation.

Replace the turbulence within us with a sacred calm.

Replace the anxiety with us with a quiet confidence.

Replace the fear within us with a strong faith.

Replace the bitterness within us with the sweetness of grace.

Replace the darkness within us with a gentle light.

Replace the coldness within us with a loving warmth.

Replace the night within us with your day.

Replace the winter within us with your spring.

Straighten our crookedness, fill our emptiness.

Dull the edge of our pride, sharpen the edge of our humility.

Light the fires of your love. Quench the flames of our lust.

Let us see ourselves, as you see us,

That we may see you, as you have promised.

And be fortunate according to your word.

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God!

— Author unknown

Priesthood: Not Just for Sunday

“God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that by His grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.”

— Titus 3:6-7

Sunday, May 6, while I was recuperating from surgery in the hospital, was a Sunday like none other. Normally I’m opening the doors of the church, turning on lights, setting things out for Mass and looking forward to preaching to God’s people and see them gather for worship in His house. But on this Sunday, the fifth day of my stay in the hospital, the sting of the pain and the suffering that I was experiencing was penetrated by the Lord’s Day. I awoke to watch the 6:00 AM shut-in Mass on WPXI. The Mass was offered by Fr. Michael Decewicz from Juan Diego Parish in Sharpsburg, PA. I longed to view this Mass and watching it made me think of the importance of this Mass for those who are hospitalized, in nursing homes or homebound, which I will be offer on June 10 for the feast of the Most Sacred Body and Blood of Christ, along with our organist Ginny Ambrose and our choir from the parish.

Then I viewed Dr. Charles Stanley and the charismatic evangelist Joel Osteen from Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. After this I tuned into the 8:00 AM Mass at St. Paul Cathedral with the rector Fr. Don Brier as celebrant. Although this was a different Sunday in nature it had its own beauty. A new Eucharistic minister from St. James Parish who has served for three months, Betsy, came in to give me Holy Communion. It seemed to be the culmination of the stay in the hospital as she shared with me her passion and new-found excitement in the pastoral care setting of a hospital. She mentioned her ministry brought untold graces into her own faith journey and that she found bringing Jesus to those unable to be present at Mass ever so rewarding. When I told her I was the priest of St. Joseph, she asked if I would offer the prayer to which I said, “Jesus, Great Physician of our mind, bodies, hearts and spirits, give us strength and courage to do Your will and be an instrument of Your healing presence to one another. I thank you for sending this servant, Betsy, to minister to me in my time of need. And I thank you for the grace and healing of this Holy Eucharist.”

It was not too long after that two doctors came in to say, “Father, are you ready to be discharged?” Although I knew I was not coming back home to the parish house as yet, I was glad to be on my way out of there. I didn’t care how many pain killers I had to take or steps of the mountain I had to climb to the road to recovery. I was just relieved to be released on the Lord’s Day and will never forget the sunshine of God’s grace in my darkest hour.

On Monday, May 21, I celebrate the 24th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. I was ordained by the then-Bishop Donald Wuerl, the 11th Bishop of Pittsburgh. In anticipation for this I revisited and re-read the book by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan entitled "Priests for the Third Millennium." As the former rector of North American College in Rome, he offers seminary talks expanded for priestly service. The cardinal’s passion and joy are contagious. As the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said, “The crisis in the priesthood is not one of identity but one of faith.” Without a deep and mature faith we run the risk of trying futilely to seek meaning in other things: bottles, golf clubs, stocks, cars, travel, promotion, ambition. In the words of Pope Paul VI, “When a man says yes to the priesthood, that yes is forever” to continue to fight the good fight, to remain faithful to persevere in the midst of confusion, doubt and frustration. In our spiritual journey there are hills and valleys. And the key to holiness is not to lose hope in the dark valleys. When in the hospital I thought of Bishop Zubik who had to undergo back surgery twice in a relatively short period and gave the "thumbs-up" as he was looking toward a more promising future.

A priest is not called “reverend” nor “doctor” nor “vicar” nor “canon” but “father,” and father is an identity that is based on being, not function. Thus we retain our priestly identity wherever we go and whatever we do and our lives must let the light of Christ shine through us in all that we think, say and do. Priesthood is not a job, an occupation, a profession or a function, but a radical configuration of one’s life to Jesus Christ. The legendary Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, the president of Notre Dame for 35 years, believed that if you want to be faithful to your vocation, then be faithful to daily Mass. Be faithful to daily prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. Be faithful to spiritual direction. Be faithful to daily spiritual reading. Be faithful to regular use of the sacrament of Penance. Be faithful to your vows of obedience, respect and chastity. Be faithful to simplicity of life, devotion to the Blessed Mother and the saints and a well balanced human formation. Fr. Hesburgh believed in a simple three-word prayer that served him well for many years, “Come, Holy Spirit.”

Cardinal Dolan reiterates the importance for priests to be men of integrity, sincerity, truth, character, reliability, transparency, chastity, confidentiality, charity and fairness. We must strive for inner serenity and purity of heart so that what we profess and how we live, meaning our external actions and our internal convictions are in order. Thus one is a well-integrated person and is at peace with His God, himself and others.

In his chapter on priestly zeal, Cardinal Dolan reminds us to have the zest of the apostles on Pentecost morning, meaning: be excited, eager and raring to go — have nerve, energy, drive and not be tepid, lack-luster or couch-potato disciples. One needs to have the great arena for the fight for souls in a parish. He reminds us of the importance of priests being on fire with zeal as he quotes Pope John Paul II at his Holy Thursday, 1979 address to priests, “The only priest who proves necessary to people, is the priest who is conscious of the meaning of his priesthood: the priest who believes profoundly, who professes his faith with courage, who prays fervently, who teaches with deep conviction, who serves with zeal, who puts into practice in his own life the program of the beatitudes, and who knows how to love disinterestedly, who is close to everyone, and especially to those who are most in need.” I’m glad to be back in the saddle at St. Joseph to serve as your priest.

A Mother’s Love: the Best Medicine

I wanted to let you know that I whispered a prayer or two for you today. You crossed my mind so many times and I asked the angels to be near you. I whispered a prayer for God to stand by your side — loving, protecting and guiding you. Know that you’re in my heart and that I whispered a prayer or two for you.

— Ellen M. DuBois

As I share these thoughts with you I’m sure you will read them before you will see me. I wish to sincerely thank each and every one of you for the countless measures of love that you extended to me during my recent surgery at Sewickley Valley Hospital and time of need. Your love was manifested in so many ways, through the gift of flowers, cards, well wishes and prayers and goodies. I realized that many people traveled some distances to the hospital but were unable to see me in my room, as the doctor had me off limits for visitation. However, the nurses gave me the names of all the people who came; I am very grateful to all. I especially thank the people who wrote their name and greetings on a card at last weekend’s Masses to extend their measure of love.

My surgery took one hour and forty minutes and was performed by Dr. Michael Felix. A benign growth was removed in my large intestine. (Thank God.) The doctor said that the surgery was the easiest one he had in two weeks, going without a glitch, and he was well pleased. Unfortunately, however, for over three days, I experienced a high temperature of 103.5, and the doctor was quite concerned about the etiology or cause of this fever. So on Friday, May 4, under the direction of the infectious control doctor, Bruce Chamovit, MD, I underwent a battery of more tests -- CAT scan, chest x-ray, Doppler for blood clots in the legs, tests for C Diff -- to get to the root of the extraordinarily high temperature. All the tests came out negative.

After that stormy Friday of going from room to room to room for endless tests in a state of increasing weakness, a knock came to my door. A nurse said, “There is a very special visitor who would love to see you if you are up to it.” Since I had good results from those tests, I was starting to feel more confident and hopeful. Who could be here? Lo and behold, the nurse said it was the bishop. The bishop entered my room with leg extended in a wheel chair. He said, “I heard there was a priest from the Diocese of Pittsburgh on the fifth floor and I had to see you before I left. Although I am not your bishop, I am a bishop. My name is Bishop Lawrence Brandt,” bishop of our neighboring Diocese of Greensburg.

We had a lively and joyful exchange of about an hour. I told him that I should have been at the Great Hall at the Seminary that night with Archabbot Douglas Nowicki OSB, and Fr. Timothy S. Whalen, and that I guessed God had other plans so that I could meet him instead. I was so very grateful for his pastoral visit, kindness and sensitivity. Bishop Brandt told me that he studied in Rome and was the bishop of Greensburg for eight years and was 73 years old. He was originally a priest from the Diocese of Erie. He came into my room with his leg extended because he had just undergone a knee replacement by Dr. Thomas. He said his recuperation time would be 6-7 weeks. During our visit, we covered a gamut of topics from the main figure-head of the American Church, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, to the number of vocations in our respective dioceses, to New Evangelization efforts and initiatives, to the challenges and promises that we hope for in serving God’s people more zealously, joyfully and faithfully. It didn’t take long in the conversation to find out that Bishop Brandt was a seasoned traveler and that he had been on the committee of the US Conference of Bishops for religious liberty with Bishop Zubik. I told him that we share the common ground of not only faith, but of having surgery on the same day, May 1, Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

Bishop Brandt spoke of his 104-year-old mother who lived with him for 25 years and who was now living in St. Anne’s Home in Greensburg. He said her favorite show is Dancing with the Stars. Then we went on to the topic of the great gift and the most powerful influence in the world — a mother’s love.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day today, we honor our mothers and the special place they hold in our lives, whether our natural or adopted mothers, or another who assumes that role. As we receive love from the school of our mothers, we give love to others. There is no greater earthly example of God’s unconditional, sacrificing, nurturing and life-giving love than that of a faithful mother. Our God, like our mothers, loved us first before we could respond. Our moms know us intimately and have loved us unconditionally through childbirth pains, through infant helplessness and through the challenges and struggles that emerge from childhood, through adolescence and in to adulthood. Like the Lord, our mom is always the one we can count on to provide the constancy of God’s love, supports, counsel, faith and a listening ear. We thank God for our mothers, whose lives are the sign and reflection of God’s incredible love. Good mothers not only tell us how to live but to show us the way.

The most important preparation for my hospital stay, beyond the host of tests and pre-ops and all he duties for the parish, was to take a lengthy amount of time to get that fitting card and send it off to my mother. (It is estimated that 133,000,000 cards are sent on this most beloved holiday.)

St. Theresa of Avilla, a great mystic of the Carmelite order and profound spiritual teacher (1515-1582), writes about her mother dying when she was 12 years old. She said, “When I began to understand what I had lost, I went, afflicted, before an image of Our Lady and besought her with my many tears to be my Mother.” As our conversation come to a close, I knelt down and asked for Bishop Brandt’s blessing. I remember him praying that the Blessed Mother, our patron St. Joseph, and my patron St. Richard would heal, strengthen and protect me with God’s love. A constant question of the doctors and nurses was, “What is your level of pain now? 0 — no pain, 3 — mild pain, 7 — moderate pain, 10 — severe pain.” I am happy to say the numbers are going in the right direction. A loving family, a loving circle of friends, a loving faith community are signs of Christ’s victorious presence.