God Is With Us€¦ · our faith, Christ was manifested in the flesh.” (cf. 1 Timothy 3:16) Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, constantly reminds us that the center point of our

INSIDE:Page 3: Lourdes Regional receives $246K in tuition assistancePage 5: Vatican series examines Constitution on the Sacred LiturgyPage 8: Faithful honor Our Lady of GuadalupePage 12: Corpus Christi students prepare teachers for NASA flight

DECEMBER 21,2012VOLUME 48, NUMBER 24

God Is With UsMy Brothers and Sisters in Christ,“Behold the Virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name

him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us.” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)As we gather with family and friends this Christmas to celebrate the birth

of our Savior, we know that the Church throughout the world is celebrating a Year of Faith. This Year of Faith calls us to a deeper reflection and contempla-tion of the basic tenets of our Catholic faith and what it is that we truly believe as Catholics. It is in this context that I address to you my annual Christmas message with the hope that this coming year will mark a new awakening in the lives of all the faithful in the Diocese of Harrisburg to the great gift that was given to us over 2,000 years ago: “Wonderful, indeed, is the mystery of our faith, Christ was manifested in the flesh.” (cf. 1 Timothy 3:16)

Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, constantly reminds us that the center point of our faith is an authentic encounter with the person of Jesus Christ. In this encounter we find the satisfaction and joy that each of us seeks in the recesses of our hearts. Jesus is the fulfillment of our deepest hopes and desires. For, as Saint Augustine reminds us, “Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in you.”

It is no secret that our world is in a very restless state and that many people are anxious and concerned about their future. Many have fallen prey to the intoxicating materialism of our society and the insatiable appetite for more and more things in the hopes of fulfilling their need and desire for happiness. Unfortunately, in doing so, too many of our brothers and sisters have margin-alized God and placed Him on the perimeter of their lives, rarely turning to Him or seeking His presence. They forget the very One from whom all true happiness comes.

This Christmas, all of us are invited to listen more carefully to the story of the Child born in Bethlehem and to the revelation that He brings to the world. It is in Jesus that God fully reveals Himself to humanity and invites us

to share in His new creation that is centered in Christ. In Jesus, God unfolds the reality of His deep love for every man and woman, inviting fallen human-ity into a deep communion with the three persons of the Blessed Trinity for all eternity. This communion is realized through our faith in Jesus and our participation in His divine life, found especially in the sacramental life of the Church.

It is precisely in the celebration of the Eucharist that we encounter Jesus who continues to be present in the world. He is truly “God-with-us.” Just as He humbled Himself to take on our human nature revealed in His birth as the babe of Bethlehem, the Lord continues His humble presence among us under the species of bread and wine that has been changed into His Body and Blood to nourish us for our journey through life.

It is my prayer that, as the Catholic community gathers to celebrate the Holy Eucharist this Christmas, our eyes will be opened anew to the real pres-ence of the Lord in our midst. As we celebrate His birth in time, may we be ever mindful of His enduring presence each and every time we gather to cel-ebrate the Eucharist. May the Year of Faith help us to understand the “won-derful mystery” we celebrate on Christmas Day and inspire us to a greater participation in the Sunday Eucharist on a weekly basis, where we can find the Christ Child ever present in our midst.

I pray that the Lord will bless all the faithful in the Diocese of Harrisburg with His peace and shower you with many graces in the New Year.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Joseph P. McFadden Bishop of Harrisburg

Nativity scene at the Episcopal Residence in Harrisburg.EMILY M. ALBERT AND CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS

2 - THE CATHOLIC WITNESS, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Faith and Life

By Jen ReedThe Catholic Witness

As the community of Newtown, Conn., braced itself on a dank and dreary Dec. 17 for the first funerals of the 27 victims of the horrific school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, educators at St. Theresa School in New Cumberland – as at all of the Diocese of Harris-burg’s schools – were offering support through prayer.

“We had the opportunity this morning to come together as educators to mourn and to grieve,” Matthew Shore, principal of St. Theresa’s, said of an early morning prayer service

for faculty and staff. “We’re a very close community

here – I have three daughters at the school, and a number of teachers have children at this school,” he said. “As an educator and a parent, you look at these kids every day and you just can’t imagine that anything like this would ever happen.”

Since receiving word of the horrif-ic Dec. 14 tragedy, Mr. Shore and his teachers set out to re-assure their K-8 students, as well as parents, on the safety measures taken to secure the school building. They also focused on best practices to help parents talk to their children about the tragedy.

St. Theresa’s routinely practices safety drills, including one that ad-dresses what the school would do if an intruder entered the building, he said. And, the school has implement-ed the most updated suggestions from the FBI, professional response teams and the local police department. Last month, security procedures were a focus of the school’s in-service meet-ing.

“We’ve taken every precaution necessary to keep our school safe,” Mr. Shore remarked, “and we con-tinue to pray for the students and the staff who died, and for the families who are mourning their loss.”

On the day of the school shooting, Bishop Joseph P. McFadden offered words of solace and guidance, and encouraged everyone to thank God for the gift of children and pray that the world will grow in its respect for human life.

“I am deeply hurt and deeply sad-dened by the tragic events that took place in Newtown, Conn. In times such as this we must also have hope in the goodness of the Lord and in the resurrection,” he said.

“When we are faced with such an unspeakable tragedy, we know there are no human words that can ade-quately explain this senseless act nor words to console the families of the victims. However, as people of faith, we must place our hope and trust in the goodness of the Lord who makes all things new,” he remarked.

“For people of faith, our conso-lation comes from the Lord who through His own passion has con-quered death itself and revealed to us the Resurrection. Our Lord is the Lord of life and we must turn to Him at times like this to seek His consola-

tion and His peace,” the bishop said.“As Christians we join in prayer for the families of the victims of this devastating tragedy

especially the parents of the children, asking God to give them the grace and strength to bear the heavy cross that has been given to them,” he said.

Father Edward J. Quinlan, Diocesan Secretary for Education, told The Catholic Witness that diocesan schools are designed in such a way that access to the buildings are strictly lim-ited.

“Even our older school buildings have systems where access is limited and visitors must be specifically identified to be admitted,” he said. “All our schools require all visitors to come in to the office before going through the building as necessary. All of these measures are done to control access to the school as much as humanly possible.”

Father Quinlan is also pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Harrisburg. He spoke with teachers at Holy Name School as students returned to their classrooms after the weekend.

“What I was detecting from the teachers was that the students have a sense that they really feel safe in the school, and that the teachers are very conscious of supervising students,” he said.

At Masses he celebrated throughout the weekend after the school shooting in Connecticut, Father Quinlan invited parishioners to recognize the sense of communion that exists within the Church.

“We are really joined spiritually with those suffering families in Newtown, and our prayers aren’t just empty gestures, but a sign of spiritual solidarity with that community,” he said.

“Our Lord will take care of the children and the staff members who were lost. Everything that we know about Heaven and about God and his salvific will for us keeps saying that they’re going to be at peace and know joy that is utterly unimaginable in Heaven,” he said. “The real challenge, the real struggle, is for the parents and the families left behind. We don’t have any magic words or magic formulas to make that pain go away.”

Catholic News Service

Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, Conn., was at Sandy Hook Elementary School almost immediately after the horrific shooting Dec. 14.

When the enormity of the tragedy began to unfold, other priests, chaplains and Catho-lic Charities personnel “were on the ground,” Brian Wallace, diocesan director of com-munications, told Catholic News Service.

In the days since, St. Rose of Lima has taken center stage as people gathered for a prayer vigil the night of the shootings and flocked to Sunday Masses seeking solace. They looked to Msgr. Weiss and his staff and other Catholic leaders for pastoral outreach in the aftermath of the violence, which left 20 children and seven adults dead.

Eighteen children died at the school and two others died after they had been rushed to the hospital. All of the children were first-graders. The adults included the principal and five teachers, as well as the gun-man.

Police officials identified the shooter as Adam Lanza, 20, and said he killed himself as first responders arrived on the scene.

“There are no words,” Msgr. Weiss told a TV reporter Dec. 15 in an interview for NBC’s “Today” show after spending hours helping law enforcement officials inform parents that their child had died in the shooting. At least eight of the children belonged to the parish and will be buried from St. Rose.

Msgr. Weis said many of the fam-ily members thanked him for his presence. “There was a lot of hug-ging, a lot of crying, a lot of praying, a lot of just being silent,” he said, adding that at the previous evening’s vigil, community members “came together to care and to support. ... People really care here and hopeful-ly we can just keep the community together and they can console each other.”

The priest, along with Lutheran, Episcopal, Jewish, Congregational-ist, Methodist, Baha’i and Muslim leaders, participated in an evening interfaith service Dec. 16 at a New-town auditorium.

President Barack Obama ad-dressed the gathering after meeting separately with each family who lost someone in the shooting. He ex-pressed his condolences and the na-tion’s support as they face their grief and bury their dead.

“I come to offer the love and prayers of a nation. I am very mind-ful that mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow, nor can they heal your wounded hearts,” Obama said at the service.

“I can only hope it helps for you to know that you’re not alone in your grief; that our world too has been torn apart; that all across this land of ours, we have wept with you, we’ve pulled our children tight,” he contin-ued.

Obama named each child by name, and added: “God has called them all home. For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on, and make our country wor-thy of their memory.”

In a Dec. 16 statement, Msgr. Jerald A. Doyle, administrator of the Bridgeport Dio-cese, said: “On this Gaudete Sunday we realize how quickly our joy can be turned to sorrow and how our faith can be challenged.

“On behalf of the clergy, religious and all the faithful of the Diocese of Bridgeport I extend my prayers and condolences to the families of the victims. ... Our concern and support go out to the whole community of Newtown as you try to assist and support one another, especially those who were directly impacted.”

Msgr. Doyle pledged whatever diocesan resources are needed “to assist those af-fected by this tragedy,” including counselors from Catholic Charities.

At all of the Sunday Masses at St. Rose, a letter was read from Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, Bridgeport’s bishop from 2001 until he was named to Baltimore in March.

“Along with you, and along with the rest of our nation and, indeed, the rest of the world, I was shocked and horrified to learn of what had taken place in Newtown so suddenly and terribly on Friday morning. I was in Rome for meetings, and it was early evening there when I heard,” the archbishop wrote.

In a statement released late evening Dec. 14, New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the shooting “wrenches the hearts of all people” and the “tragedy of innocent people dying through violence shatters the peace of all.”

“We pledge especially our prayerful support to the Diocese of Bridgeport and the com-munity of Newtown as they cope with this almost unbearable sorrow ... as they deal with the injuries they have sustained and with the deaths of their beautiful children,” he said.

Diocesan Schools Mourn with Newtown

‘No Words’ Can Describe Shock, Sadness

CNS/REUTERSUndated photos from various memorial websites show the victims of the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. Pictured, starting on the top row, from left to right, are Ana Mar-quez-Greene, Caroline Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Emilie Parker, and Noah Pozner; Jesse Lewis, Olivia Engel, Josephine Gay, Charlotte Bacon and Chase Kowalski; Daniel Barden, Jack Pinto, Catherine Hubbard, Dylan Hockley and Benjamin Wheeler; Grace McDonnell, James Mattioli, Avielle Richman, Rachel Davino and Anne Marie Murphy; Lauren Rousseau, Mary Sherlach, Victoria Soto, Dawn Hochsprung and Nancy Lanza.

DECEMBER 21, 2012, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS - 3

Local Church News

December 21 – Mass and Dinner for Seminarians, Cardinal Keeler Center, Harrisburg, 5 p.m.

December 23 – Mass and Pastoral Visit, St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Quarryville, 10:30 a.m.

December 24 – Christmas Eve Mass, Church of the Good Shepherd, Camp Hill, 5 p.m.December 25 – Midnight Mass, St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg; Christmas Mass, St.

Margaret Mary Church, Harrisburg, 10 a.m.January 1 – Mass and Pastoral Visit with Blessing of El Dulce Nombre de Jesus

Statue, San Juan Bautista Parish, Lancaster, noon.January 4 – Blessing of the Altar and Chapel, Bishop McDevitt High School,

Harrisburg, 11 a.m.January 5 – Dedication of Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg, 10 a.m.January 6 – Mass and Pastoral Visit, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Hershey, 9 a.m.

January 13 – Mass and Pastoral Visit, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Lancaster, 11 a.m.January 20 – Mass and Pastoral Visit, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Harrisburg, 11 a.m.;

Ecumenical Prayer Service for Christian Unity, Episcopal Cathedral, Harrisburg, 5 p.m.

By Emily M. AlbertThe Catholic Witness

The gymnasium at Our Lady of Lourdes Re-gional School, Coal Township, was filled with students, faculty, staff and parents Dec. 17. Every-one was anxious to celebrate together the gener-ous donation of $246,216 raised by local busi-ness leaders under the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, EITC.

The EITC program provides scholarships to students to attend the school of their choice. Rec-ognized as a national model, Pennsylvania’s EITC program provides businesses with a tax credit for donations made to organizations that provide scholarships for students.

Since its establishment in 2001, the EITC Program has annually allowed more than 40,000 students to attend the school of their choice. Some 360,000 students have received EITC scholar-ships, thanks to more than $510 million contrib-uted by businesses.

An alumn of Lourdes, Tony Varano, visited with Bishop Joseph P. McFadden last March to dis-cuss ways in which alumni and others in the Coal Township community could help Our Lady of Lourdes, which, at the time, was facing financial challenges. As a result of the meeting, the school

Lourdes Regional Receives More than $240,000 in Tuition Assistance

CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESSPaul Sandri and Tony Varano, alumni of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School in Coal Township, present a check in the amount of $246,216 to Bishop Joseph P. McFadden for the diocese’s Neumann Scholarship Foundation. The funds, donated by local business leaders through the EITC Program, will provide tuition as-sistance to students at Lourdes.

A student bows her head in prayer as the school community offers prayers for the victims of the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Freshman student Erika Kapushinki performs a song during the EITC check presentation at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School Dec. 17.

community decided to learn more of the logistics of the EITC program and found out how easy the program actually works for businesses and

schools.“There are a lot of

us [alumni] out there that feel the same way I do: I absolutely love this school,” shared Mr. Varano. “A lot want to help, and we found it rather easy to talk to alumni about EITC op-portunities.”

Mr. Varano continued, “Even though it seems like a no-brainer, it took a personal touch to talk to people about it. That is where Paul Sandri helped. He is a local

business man who has been a part of EITC for years.”

Mr. Sandri, who owns Keystone Tax Asso-ciation, has been working with the EITC pro-gram for almost six years. He too is an alumn of Lourdes and currently has two children attend-ing the school. He commented that not only was he greatly affect-ed by the school but he is watch-ing firsthand how the school is constantly de-veloping and the leaps and bounds it has taken over the years.

“If anyone in the community is curious about EITC, I am happy to talk to them about it!” he offered. He already helped many in the commu-nity realize how beneficial the EITC program is to business owners, and how important it is for parents to be able to make the decision of what kind of education is best for their child.

Bishop McFadden was invited to accept the check and to lead prayer for the school community and visitors. He also took a few moments to thank all those involved in making the grant possible for Lourdes. He spoke of how important it is for par-ents, the first teachers of children, to have a choice of education for their children.

“When you go home this evening, say thank you to your parents,” Bishop McFadden told the students in attendance.

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School includes grades pre-k to 12, and principal, Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Margaret Ann Quinn, com-mented that “This grant provides wonderful opportunities for students to remain at Lourdes, increases enrollment and allow students who couldn’t afford the opportunity to attend Lourdes.”


Local Church News

The Catholic WitnessOFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG

Most Rev. Joseph P. McFaddenPublisher

Jennifer ReedManaging Editor

StaffChris Heisey: Photojournalist

Emily M. Albert: PhotojournalistSusan Huntsberger:

Circulation Coordinator and Administrative Assistant

The Catholic Witness (ISSN 0008-8447, USPS 557 120) is published biweekly except Christmas/New Year and July by the Harrisburg Catholic Publishing

Association, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111 3710. Periodicals postage paid at Harrisburg, PA.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Catholic Witness, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111-3710.

Telephone717-657-4804 ext. 201

FAX717-657-7673

Email: [email protected]: www.hbgdiocese.org

Yearly Subscriptions:$8.17 per family, derived from diocesan revenues from the parishes. Other subscriptions: $24.00

Moving? Send us the address label from The Catholic Witness plus your NEW address including zip code +4. Please allow three weeks for the change.

Feliz Navidad

By Father Paul CB SchenckSpecial to The Witness

“Feliz Navidad,” Jose Feliciano’s Christmas song, is one of the most popular in the U.S. and around the world. The Spanish greeting liter-ally means, “Happy Nativity.”

In the new translation of the Roman Missal, Christ-mas is formally called “The Solemnity of The Nativity of The Lord.” The “Nativity Scene” with the Babe in the manger, surrounded by a serene Blessed Mother and a careful St. Joseph, is a familiar, cherished and enduring image of the observance of Christ-mas. The carols of Christmas exult, “Christ is born today, Christ is born today!”

Birth is defined in Webster’s as, “the process or circumstances of being born.” Birth is a process, rather than a single, isolated event. Biologically, birth does not “produce” a child. The child, already pres-ent and very much alive, only transfers from one place, his or her mother’s womb, to another – outside his or her mother’s body. Neither does the birth process produce a person; the person already exists, simply moving from one place to another, and one status to another, from pre-born to born.

The Christ Child was already the Incarnate second person of the Holy Trinity before his birth. He was already “true God from true God” and Savior before he was born. In every way, Jesus Christ was himself, before and after his nativity.

What then do we celebrate at Christmas, “the solemnity of the Na-tivity of The Lord?” We celebrate our Lord and Savior reaching his birth day, emerging from the Tabernacle of his Mother’s womb as Em-manuel, “God with us.” We receive him as he already is, and for who he already is – Son of God and Son of Man, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christmas then is a paradigm, an example of how we should receive every child – before, at, and after birth. Just as birth did not produce The Christ Child, or give him his personhood, so birth does not make any child or give him personhood. Each and every child is herself or himself fully a human person, from the very first moment they come into existence at conception. The birth of a child is the celebration that she or he has reached their birth day and emerged from their mother’s sanctuary and is now among us.

This should cause us to celebrate a blessed solemnity of the Nativity of The Lord, a very Merry Christmas and a very happy birthday!

(Father Paul CB Schenck is Diocesan Director of Respect Life Ac-tivities and chairman of the National Pro-Life Action Center in Wash-ington, D.C.)

Pennsylvania Catholic Conference

Governor Tom Corbett announced Dec. 12 that Pennsylvania will not set up its own health insurance exchanges under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). In his statement, the governor said, “Health care reform is too important to be achieved through haphaz-ard planning. Pennsylvania taxpayers and businesses deserve more. They deserve in-formed decision making and a strong plan that responsibly uses taxpayer dollars.”

The Catholic Church has long and con-sistently advocated for the reform of the American health care system. Access to health care is fundamental and necessary for human dignity. Yet concerns raised dur-ing the health care reform debate about con-science protection and coverage of elective abortion are not resolved. Without a state exchange, Pennsylvanians who qualify will be enrolled in the federal exchange, which will cover elective abortions.

If Pennsylvania had created its own ex-change, it would have been able to opt out

of this abortion coverage. As Pennsylva-nians work with the state and federal gov-ernment to address issues of cost and flex-ibility, we must also be concerned about taxpayers supporting the flawed and dam-aging idea that elective abortions are basic health care.

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, with other pro-life organizations, is explor-ing every option to avoid the federal elec-tive abortion provision. In consultation with the USCCB and other pro-life groups after yesterday’s announcement, it appears that a legislative remedy can be found to assure that the federally administered in-surance exchange can exclude elective abortion coverage.

The PCC will continue to monitor the developments on this issue and will post updates as they are available. Visit www.pacathoilc.org to send a message to your representatives in support of legislation that removes taxpayer funded abortions from health insurance exchanges.

Send a Message In Support of a Pro-Life Insurance Exchange

The Witness Returns January 18

The December 21 edition of The Catholic Witness is the final one for 2012. Our first issue of the New Year will be January 18, 2013.

During our hiatus, we invite you to stay in touch with news from the diocese by visiting the diocesan Web site at www.hbgdiocese.org or by checking out its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DioceseofHarris-burg.

As parishes, schools and organizations plan their event calendars for the New Year, we take this opportunity to let you know that our sched-ule of issue dates and submission deadlines for 2013 is now available. You can find the Publication Schedule and information on how to submit items to us by clicking on the “Catholic Witness” link at www.hbgdio-cese.org. If you would prefer to receive the Publication Schedule and Submission Guidelines via e-mail or standard mail, contact us at [email protected] or 717-657-4804.

We send you best wishes for a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!

Donations to Hurricane Victims Top $364,000

In response to the call for financial help for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, the people of the Diocese of Harrisburg generously contributed $364,065.85 in special collections taken up in the parishes. Harrisburg Catholic Administrative Services, Inc., submitted the total from the collection to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office of National Collections on Dec. 13.

Father Paul CB SchenckLIFEGIFT

Call to All ArtistsYear of Faith Art Show

For information, visit www.hbgdiocese.org/yearoffaith.Watch future editions of The Catholic Witness

for more informations.


Faith and Life

By Rev. Joshua R. Brommer, STL

Special to The Witness

After much discussion and lively debate, the bishops gathered in the magnificent nave of Saint Peter’s Basilica to give their final votes on the first document of the Second Vatican Council: Sac-rosanctum Concilium, the Con-st i tut ion on the S a c r e d L i tu rgy. The day was De-c e m b e r 4, 1963, the final day of the Second Session of the Council; five-hundred years to the date when the bishops at the Council of Trent gave their final mandate for the reform of the Sacred Liturgy in 1563. Like five-hundred years ear-lier, the mechanics of liturgical re-form would be entrusted to the cu-ria of Rome who would call upon experts from around the world to form a “consilium” of theologians, liturgists, and pastors to fulfill the directives of the Council Fathers.

The vote on December 4, 1963, was overwhelmingly clear: 2,147 bishops would mark “placet” (yes) on the small slips of paper provided for their decision; only 4 bishops would mark “non-placet” (no). To quote one of the liturgical experts called upon to take up the reform, Father Annibale Bugnini, “It was an emotional moment, a historical moment.” The work of liturgical reform had been a long-time in the making. Its roots can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century with the reform of Euro-pean Benedictine monastic life, along with the production of criti-cal works of early Church writ-ings from such great Fathers of the Church as Saint Justin Martyr (d. 165) and Saint Hippolytus (d. 235). Scholarly circles had been laying the foundation for what would develop into the liturgi-cal reform of the Second Vatican Council for about a century. Their principal concern was the redis-covery of the form and spirit of the Liturgy as celebrated by the ancient Church.

What most of us know about the liturgical reform are the concrete, everyday changes that have been handed down to us: the wider use of our own language, the simpli-fication of the Order of Mass, the broader participation of lay peo-ple, and the restoration of the rites of Christian initiation for adults. But when the Council Fathers presented Sacrosanctum Concil-ium to Pope Paul VI for pontifi-cal promulgation, they presented to him and to the whole Church more than just a list of things to spruce up. They gave the Church a beautiful synthesis of 2,000 years of reflection on the identity of the Church as the Mystical Body, joined to Christ Her head, wor-shipping God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. The teaching of the Council put into re-lief that the identity and mission of the Church can never be separated from the act of sacrificial wor-ship forever taking place in Christ who is seated at the Father’s right hand in glory. As Father Ratzinger wrote about the document in 1966, “The text implied an entire eccle-siology and thus anticipated (in a degree that cannot be too highly appreciated) the main theme of the entire Council – its teaching on the Church.”

CNS FILE PHOTOBishops attend the second session of the Second Vatican Council in 1963. Between 2,000 and 2,500 bishops attended each Vatican II session inside St. Peter’s Basilica. The council produced 16 landmark documents that transformed the Church.

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy

Illuminations on Vatican IIFather Joshua R.

Brommer, STL

Every word and action that oc-curs when the Holy Eucharist is celebrated, a child is baptized, a dying person is anointed, or the Morning Prayer of the Church is prayed, reveals who the Church is as much as it communicates the grace of God. This understand-ing lies behind those now famous words of Pope John Paul II, “The

C h u r c h draws her life from the Euch a r i s t . This truth does not simply ex-press a daily experience of faith, but recapitulates the heart of the mys-

tery of the Church” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 1). For this reason, the most significant parts of the Constitution on the Sacred Lit-urgy are not the practical implica-tions indicating the reform of one part or another of the Liturgy, but those paragraphs which explain the doctrine of the Church. That doctrine grounds any reform of the Church’s prayer and worship. A good understanding of the identity of the Church is the only starting point for the reform of the Liturgy and its ongoing effect in our Chris-tian lives.

Sacrosanctum Concilium ex-plains that the Liturgy makes pres-ent the work of redemption: the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord. This is the Paschal Mystery which lies at the heart of our Christian faith whose power redeems us from sin and death. Our redemption by Christ unites us to Christ as members of His Mystical Body. This redemption is shared with us through the power of the Sacraments celebrated in the Sacred Liturgy. We are redeemed and become new creatures through the waters of Baptism; we become temples of the Holy Spirit sealed by divine fire in Confirmation; we grow in our communion with the Triune God through our worthy participation in the Holy Eucha-rist. These liturgical actions trans-form us. Each and every time we celebrate the Sacred Liturgy, we are called to share in the redeem-ing Mystery which shows forth the Mystery of Christ and the Mystery of His Church.

The Fathers of Vatican II want-ed to make it clear that the nature of the true Church is manifested in the Liturgy: the Church is human and divine; visible with invisible resources; eager to act yet con-templative; present in the world but not at home in it (cf. SC 2). Each of these aspects reveals the very tension in which we Chris-tians find ourselves caught daily. Too often we feel the effects of our limited and fallen humanity. But, it is through the celebration of the Liturgy that we are given the di-vine power to be adopted sons and daughters of God. In the words of Pope Paul VI, the Liturgy acts as “an efficacious school of divin-ity” for those who actively cel-ebrate it. Through the Liturgy the divine life increases in us and we are given the grace (those “invis-ible resources”) to do good in our active lives while remaining inti-mately connected to God, to make the best of this passing world with our eyes set on the world that does not end. We commit to this indi-vidually, but we live it collectively as members of the Body of Christ, the Church.

Yet, we must not be over-whelmed at such a sublime call-

ing. Through our “full, conscious, and actual participation” in the Liturgy, a participation which is both a right and duty afforded to us in Baptism, God gives us all we need to accomplish this. The Constitution on the Sacred Lit-urgy goes on to expound on what the Lord said to the Apostles be-fore He ascended into glory: “I am always with you.” The Sa-cred Liturgy is first and foremost the work of God because Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical actions. Christ is at work in the person of the priestly minister, so much so that when a priest baptizes, “it is really Christ Himself who bap-tizes.” Christ is present in the proclamation of His Word, “since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church.” Christ is present “when the Church prays and sings.” (Yes, interestingly enough the Coun-cil says the Church is to sing!) In our prayer and song, God is glori-fied and we are sanctified. In our public worship, in which Christ joins us to Himself, we exercise in the “priestly office of Jesus Christ,” never on our own or of our own device, but always unit-ed to Christ. For this reason, the Council can so strongly declare, “No other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree” as the Sacred Liturgy (SC 7).

Therefore, the Liturgy is the “source” and “summit” of our en-tire Christian lives. As “summit,” all of the Church’s activity is di-rected toward the Sacred Liturgy as an act of worship giving glory to God. As “source,” none of this activity could be accomplished so effectively without the power, the grace, bestowed upon the members of the Church through this worship. When the Council speaks of “full, conscious, and actual participation,” can we not see that this is precisely what is meant? It is not that every indi-vidual at every celebration must have a “job.” It means that we ap-proach the celebration of Mass, or the celebration of any of the other Sacraments, properly disposed to give ourselves over to God in an act of worship. This is not to be a

merely external and superficial ac-tion, but the sacrifice of our very lives handed over to give God glory and praise. Such openness and deep interior participation in the Liturgy properly disposes us to “cooperate with heavenly grace lest [we] receive it in vain” (SC 11). Cooperation with God’s work is our participation.

This participation and coopera-tion with God’s activity is a con-stant preoccupation of the Fathers of Vatican II. Time and time again, the Constitution on the Sacred Lit-urgy mentions the need for educa-tion and formation, especially of the lay faithful, to allow for the greatest possible sharing in divine grace. We reap the most spiritual benefits from the Liturgy when we understand it well and give ourselves over completely to the prayers and action. It is ultimately this concern that drives the Fathers to call for a “General Reform” of the Church’s Liturgy, whereby the “immutable elements,” which have been divinely instituted, are preserved and enhanced, while permitting those aspects which are subject to change “to express more clearly the holy things they signify” (SC 21). True concern for the lay faithful led the Fathers to state, “The Christian people, as far as it is possible, should be able to understand [the texts and rites] with ease and take part in them fully, actively, and as a com-munity” (SC 21). Undeniably the fulfillment of this mandate and the subsequent reform that it inspired has not been easy in the Church these last five decades. The Sacred Liturgy, which is meant to mani-fest outwardly the “wondrous sacrament of the whole Church” (SC 5) as the privileged place of communion and reconciliation, a foretaste of heaven, has not been immune from internal debates and squabbles. Unfortunately, too often, well-intentioned members of the Church did precisely what Sacrosanctum Concilium express-ly forbids, “No person, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority” (SC 22). In these cir-cumstances, the Liturgy became more about “us” or an individual, than about the work of God that

brings to birth the Church.The Year of Faith and the up-

coming fiftieth anniversary of this document provide a great occa-sion to reread it. In some cases, our judgments and debates about the Sacred Liturgy are based on our own presumptions or preju-dices. Rereading the document could surprise us. For example, did Vatican II remove Latin from the Liturgy? In §35 the docu-ments states, “The use of the Latin language … is to be preserved.” While the “wider use” of the vernacular is recommended par-ticularly for use “in readings, di-rectives, and in some prayers and chants.” Later on we read, “Care must be taken to ensure that the faithful may also be able to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them” (SC 54). This topic alone tends to draw a lot of lively discussion. And, there are certainly other parts of this docu-ment which have been less con-tentious and very successful, like the wider use of Sacred Scripture in the Liturgy (SC 51), the per-mission granted to receiving com-munion under both kinds (SC 55), and the development of the RCIA (SC 64). Other directives, such as the wider participation in the Lit-urgy of the Hours (SC 100) and the reform of sacred music (SC 112-121), might not have been fully realized yet.

In the end, not one of the billion Catholics throughout the world today can admit they have not been affected by the placet votes of those 2,147 bishops that De-cember forty-nine years ago. The liturgical reform they called for continues. So does the discussion and lively debate, as we seek to live out what it means to be what the Sacred Liturgy makes of us: the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church.

(Father Brommer is the Admin-istrative Assistant to the Bishop and Liturgy Coordinator for the Diocese of Harrisburg. During this Year of Faith, he is contrib-uting to The Catholic Witness a series of articles on the Second Vatican Council as the Church ob-serves its 50th anniversary.)


Faith and Life

Will You Help a Seminarian Become a

Priest for Our Diocese?

A Profile on Tyler MentzerDescribe your faith formation.

I have been a life-long parishioner of St. Ignatius Loyola in Buchanan Val-ley. It has been a great blessing for me to have grown up in such a loving and supportive family of faith, and our par-ish community has been very influential in my spiritual development. It has also been a blessing for me to be able to at-tend Catholic schools within the Diocese of Harrisburg, and these educational ex-periences have contributed significantly to my academic and spiritual formation as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I currently attend St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, and I am beginning my first year of formation for the diocese as a Pre Theology 1 seminarian.

What excites you about the priesthood?

It is very exciting to know that God de-sires to be close to His people. So close, in fact, that He gives Himself to us in the form of His Eucharistic presence! It is truly an amazing gift and He wants to make present this gift, in a special way, through the hands of His priests. To be able to bring people to God, and God to His people is a very exciting and hum-bling prospect, and the love and humility of Our Lord never ceases to inspire and amaze me.

What do you most look forward to in serving the Church and her people?I would imagine it to be a great joy

to be able to share God’s life with His people. By administering the sacraments, especially Holy Eucharist, a priest is able to share God’s presence in a very tan-gible way with others; through Baptism and Holy Matrimony, he welcomes into and more closely unites God’s family with one another; through both the dai-ly joys and struggles of life, a priest is able to participate in a wide variety of life circumstances in the lives of God’s family of faith. It must be a truly unique and humbling vantage point from which to view, experience, and share God’s life with His people.

What gifts, talents or abilities do you feel you can bring to the priesthood?I feel that God has generously gifted

me with both a supportive and nurturing church family, as well as a loving and encouraging immediate family, whose Christ-like examples I will look to emu-late and bring into my potential minis-try in the priesthood. I feel that God has graced me with a firm sense of faith and of prayerfulness, and also a growing de-sire to share these gifts with others. I also have several talents and interests that are related to the arts, music, athletics and academics that could prove to be benefi-cial in priestly ministry.

Describe your prayer life, and how that has assisted you in your formation.

During these first few weeks and

Since 2004, the number of Harrisburg seminarians has tripled in size. This year, 41 men are discerning and studying for the Diocese of Harrisburg. The average annual cost to fund a seminarian is $40,000. As the numbers of semi-narians grow, the cost to educate them drastically increases. These men, who may be your future priests, need your help. Please consider offering your financial assistance toward our next generation of priests. We have prayed for an increase of priestly vocations and our prayers are being answered. Please help. For more information, contact the Office of Vocations at 717-657-4804.

A native of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Buchanan Valley

Studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia,

Pre Theology I

months of my formation, I have been growing steadily more and more devot-ed to Our Blessed Virgin Mother, Mary. Through daily recitation of the Rosary as well as through total consecration to Je-sus through Mary as set forth by St. Louis de Montfort in “True Devotion to Mary,” her presence, graces, and maternal guid-ance have been especially evident, and increasingly important in my prayer life. Also, participating in daily Mass as well as making daily visits in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and being / praying / reflecting / listening / meditating in the Lord’s presence has been of paramount importance. Another significant com-ponent has been incorporating “Shorter Christian Prayer” or, most recently, “The Liturgy of the Hours,” into my daily prayer life. This particular method of praying has been very fruitful because it has made me more aware of God’s pres-ence throughout the entirety of my day.

How has the financial support of the people of the diocese specifically

helped you in your formation?I am very, very grateful for the generos-

ity that has been extended to me by the diocesan community. It has truly been a blessing, and it is this generosity that has enabled me to continue to discern – within the seminary environment – if the Lord is calling me to a life of service to His peo-ple through His priesthood. Also because of this generous support, I enter into the formation process with sincere gratitude, and I approach my studies with a deep-ened sense of purpose and of respectful responsibility to those gracious support-ers who have enabled me to be here.

December and January – Catholic Perspective presents a special Christmas pro-gram on Dec. 23 featuring a Christmas message from Bishop Joseph P. McFadden. On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, Archbishop Roger L. Schwietz of Anchorage, Alaska guides us through the Nativity of the Lord with a reflection on the Gospel of the day.

The Dec. 30 edition of Catholic Perspective continues with a presentation by Bish-op Joseph J. Tyson of Yakima, Washington, on the meaning of the Gospel message for that day and a discussion during the Octave of Christmas and the Feast of the Holy Family.

Bishop Joseph P. McFadden marks the Epiphany of the Lord on Jan. 6, 2013 with his personal reflection on the Gospel with a special message during this edition of Catholic Perspective on the first Sunday in the New Year. Listeners will enjoy this full half hour of teaching and preaching by Bishop McFadden.

Catholic Perspective is produced in cooperation with the Office of Communica-tions of the Diocese and WHFY AM 720. The program is heard Mondays at noon and Sundays at 3 p.m. on WHYF AM 720 and on Sunday mornings on WLAN-AM 1390, Lancaster at 7:30 a.m.; WHYL-AM 960, Carlisle, at 8 a.m.; WHVR-AM 1280, Hanover, at 8 a.m.; WKOK-AM 1070, Sunbury, at 6:30 a.m.; WIEZ-AM 670, Lewis-town, at 8 a.m.; WWSM-AM 1510, Lebanon, at 7 a.m.; and WWEC-FM 88.3, Eliza-bethtown, at 9:30 a.m. It is also available on line at www.OldiesRadio1620.com at 6:30 a.m. and at www.WISL1480.com on Sunday at 11 a.m. or for download at www.hbgdiocese.org.

Holy Family Radio: Listen online - During the fall and winter months of the year, WHYF AM 720, Holy Family Radio is required by federal law to broadcast shorter hours. They sign on later in the morning and leave the airwaves earlier in day, at sun rise and sun set respectively. They ask for your understanding and remind everyone to listen to the station online via audio streaming 24 hours a day at www.yourholyfami-lyradio.com. A mobile device app is also available on the same website free of charge.

In order to receive your federal tax credit for your 2012 Bishop’s Annual Lenten Appeal pledge, all payments must be received at the Diocese on or before Friday, December 28th 2012.

Diocese of Harrisburg HCAS-LA 4800 Union Deposit Rd Harrisburg, PA 17111-3710 717-657-4804 x 336

2012 Federal Tax Credit

www.hbgdiocese.org/BLACC

Youth and chaperones from every parish and Catholic high school in our diocese are invited to join Bishop Joseph P. McFadden at the annual World Youth Day Celebration on Palm Sunday. This exciting, high-energy, interactive experience of faith begins with the blessing of the palms and the first gospel reading at the Capitol Steps in Harrisburg, continues in St. Patrick Cathedral and ends with a concert and dinner in Strawberry Square. Promotional material and group reg-istration forms will be posted on the diocesan website at www.hbgdiocese.org/youngchurch and sent to parishes and Catholic high schools.

The Diocesan Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry is seeking high school students to serve as instrumentalists and vocalists for the liturgical music. Re-hearsals will be held:

• Jan. 6 – Good Shepherd Parish, Camp Hill, 3:30-5 p.m.• Feb. 10 – Good Shepherd Parish, Camp Hill, 1-3:30 p.m.• March 10 – St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, 1:15-2:30 p.m. Vocalists; 2-3

p.m. Instrumentalists• March 16 – St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, 1:45 p.m.-4 p.m.On Palm Sunday, March 24, the liturgy begins at 3 p.m. at the Capitol Steps.

Instrumentalists and vocalists will be expected to arrive at St. Patrick Cathedral earlier.

Visit www.hbgdiocese.org/youngchurch/forms now to register online. The reg-istration deadline was Dec. 15, however the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry is still accepting registrations for a limited time.

Any questions related to what to expect musically can be directed to Mrs. Her-mina Boyle at 717-417-2965. Please email the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at [email protected] or call 717-657-4804 ext. 327 with any other question

High School Youth Invited to Serve as Instrumentalists, Vocalists at

World Youth Day on Palm Sunday


Catholic Commentary

LIBRARY OF CONGRESSThis photo of Abraham Lincoln was taken by Matthew Brady in Washington just six days after the 13th Amendment was passed in 1865.

By Chris HeiseyThe Catholic Witness

Lincoln, the movie, is a masterful film brought to the screen this fall by a cast of artists so rich in talent that it is difficult to imagine a better biopic production ever being done. Lincoln, the president, makes for good drama and the though the film only centers on the last few months of his life, Lincoln is so poignantly portrayed by Daniel Day Lewis that that small pe-riod of time provides a very real slice of Lincoln’s entire being. The movie’s precise focus on the political machina-tions of passing the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery is a fascinating glimpse into how messy politics is and how im-portant personality and leadership is in life. The movie depicts Lincoln so gen-uinely – loved and respected, loathed and feared, gentle but angry. When Mary Todd Lincoln (Molly), his wife, tells him that no man has ever been loved more in America than he, well, that’s a fib that a wife tells to make her-self feel better. There is overwhelming evidence that while Lincoln lived, he was not wholly loved, but rather hated.

Lincoln’s approval rating, though long dead, continues to soar. Poll af-ter poll counts him as our best presi-dent and while he has his detractors amongst historians, most all in the pro-fession cite Lincoln as our best com-mander-in-chief.

While the movie picks up the show in January 1865, the context of the 1864 re-election is all but lost. Without Lincoln’s winning over George B. Mc-Clellan on November 7, 1864, it seems highly unlikely that the great events of 1865 would ever have occurred.

Almost 150 years ago, Abraham Lincoln won re-election in what was seemingly a landslide. His Electoral College vote margin was 212-21 and his only real loss was in Delaware and New Jersey – the home of his challeng-er George B. McClellan.

McClellan, a native Pennsylvanian having grown up in Philadelphia, was an 1846 graduate of West Point where he graduated second in his class. A man of immense privilege, McClellan was an aristocrat with great fortune, and he lived the rich lifestyle in elegant man-ner. After serving in the Mexican War as an Army Engineer, McClellan went back to private life as an executive in the booming railroad business in the 1850s to make more fortune.

The election of 1864 in the midst of a Civil War remains one of this country’s most fascinating contests and it was much tighter if you look more closely at the numbers. In 1860, Lincoln won the presidential election in a four-way contest as there were four candidates that split the vote, especially so with the pro-slavery candidates. Barely get-ting 40 percent of the popular vote, Lincoln’s election stunned the nation. His election prompted seven Southern states to secede from the Union with South Carolina leading the way by a state legislature vote of 169-0 on De-cember 19, 1860, just a month after Lincoln’s win.

So for Lincoln to win the 1864 elec-tion, it meant picking up a sizeable portion of the electorate even though the seceded states of the Confederacy were not voting this time. What made the election so intriguing was that Lin-coln was running against a man he had hired, fired, hired and fired as general-in-chief all within 18 months in 1861 and 1862. McClellan loathed Lincoln and saw him as a “stupid man from

‘If There is a Worse Place than Hell’

the frontier” and did not view him as a countryman like himself given he was from the western Illinois prairies where style and substance had not yet reached, it was thought by well-to-do Easterners. Lincoln’s log cabin up-bringing and humble schooling nev-er impressed George B. McClellan, whose rich roots and outward snob-bery earned him the sobriquet Young Napoleon, though not for his military prowess, but for the pompous snot he spewed. More than once in letters to his wife, McClellan called Lincoln an “ape” an “original gorilla” and an “id-iot”. His letters, which are preserved for posterity for all to read, are gross examples of bombast, and he most cer-tainly would be embarrassingly morti-fied to know that his intimate writings with his wife are on such public dis-play today. Always write with tomor-row in mind, we might preach today.

McClellan was true, red state Dem-ocrat, and he made no secret of his stripes – he backed the time’s conser-vative party, which held that slavery was an issue best kept to the individual state’s handling. But the Civil War split the Democratic Party – not in philos-ophy but in tactic as Southerners felt their only recourse was to leave the Union and go to war. Northern conser-vatives believed in Union, though they wanted no part of messing with the slavery issue.

The only thing on which McClel-lan disagreed with his fellow South-ern conservatives was that the Union should be preserved and restored. Southerners should stay in the political fight and strive to obtain expanded mi-nority rights in the Senate (i.e. filibus-ter rules and amendment procedures). To McClellan, the war was about coax-ing the South’s rich planters into see-ing the error of their hot-headed ways. Fight a limited war, one that meant ma-neuvering and capturing area and not destroying armies and killing men.

Lincoln, of course was the liberal, a member of the infant Republican Party

that saw slavery in a more negative light. The expansion of the institution into western territories was out of the question, and housed within the party were radicals who felt the abolition of slavery was needed for the country to be a just one. Lincoln was no abolition-ist, fearing the upheaval such uncon-trolled emancipation of four million slaves meant to the country. He, how-ever, loathed the institution of slavery.

Lincoln walked the tightrope during his first years in office as his hire, Mc-Clellan, dithered, dawdled and delayed striking at Robert E. Lee’s Confeder-ate Army of Northern Virginia. So exasperated did Lincoln become with McClellan after he said that his horses were fatigued six weeks after the Sep-tember 1862 Battle of Antietam that Lincoln fired a telegram that stated: “May I respectfully ask what you have been doing to fatigue anything?”

Soon after, Lincoln fired McClellan one final time and sent home the gen-eral. McClellan soon began plotting his presidential run to unseat Lincoln in the 1864 election. McClellan was loved by his troops – they were orga-nized and cared for and were never thrown into battle in haste.

“If there is a worse place than hell,” Lincoln said at the White House on December 14, 1862, describing his army’s horrid condition and terrible defeat in Virginia at the Battle of Fred-ericksburg under his new General Am-brose Burnside, “I am in it.”

Lincoln’s presidential re-election bid was all but doomed as a popular gener-al challenged a sitting president whose war effort in the summer of 1864 was grinding though its fourth year with little hope of ending quickly. So con-vinced was Lincoln of defeat, that he penned a famous letter to his cabinet and tucked it away in his desk to be read after his certain loss on November 7th.

When Atlanta fell after many bloody assaults just weeks before the election, Lincoln’s chances slowly revived,

though McClellan still held the upper hand. Lincoln’s winning a 200-vote Electoral College advantage was an in-credible turn of events. One can only imagine today with minute by minute polling and each side claiming skewed poll samples, that today’s pundits would have completely botched pre-dictions in 1864 much like 2012 went. It would seem a McClellan landslide election victory was in the offing.

But just like 2012, there were swing states. And if you look at the numbers – and numbers rarely lie in elections unless you chose to ignore reality – you see how easily Lincoln could have lost. Lincoln won 102 Electoral Col-lege votes by a total of 84,961 votes out of 2.2 million votes cast in swing states, such as Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. He won New York by 6,000 votes. Penn-sylvania he won by one percentage point. And he barely won Illinois – his home state. Just a few thousand votes in New York and Pennsylvania would have swung 59 votes to McClellan. The demographic that propelled Lin-coln was the army’s vote. Soldiers, who once loved their General McClel-lan, voted for Lincoln by a 78-22 per-cent margin. If McClellan would have merely won 35 percent of his former army, he would have won the election.

The 13th Amendment abolishing slavery for good was passed by two measly votes in the House of Repre-sentatives by northern states with no economic vested interest in slavery. It would have never passed without the close re-election of Lincoln. And it certainly would never have passed once the South was readmitted into the Union after the war.

“Abraham Africanus the First” is how one New York newspaper re-ferred to Lincoln just weeks before the election. The Freeman’s Journal and Catholic Register, a weekly newspa-per, wrote in an August 1864 editorial, “Abe Lincoln…is brutal in all his hab-its. He is obscene… he is an animal…. Filthy blacks, greasy, sweaty and dis-gusting, now jostle white people and even ladies everywhere, even at the President’s levees.”

No Molly Lincoln, it is not true what you said that your husband was so loved by so many. What is more truth-ful, it seems, is that the hate started to die when our greatest president died in real life 150 years ago and was shown so well in this great movie now show-ing.

Bibliographic Note: Sources for this writing include the

move Lincoln – produced and directed by Steven Spielburg and screenplay written by Tony Kushner. Battle Cry of Freedom by retired Princeton profes-sor, Dr. James McPherson is arguably the best one-volume study of the war and its political course of events pub-lished in 1989. Doris Kearns Good-win’s A Team of Rivals brings a more focused attention to Lincoln’s cabinet and their ability to work despite great disagreement and naked ambition. Winning and Losing in the Civil War is a book of essays published in 1996 that is a winsome and strongly argued look at the Civil War through the eyes of a seasoned, Southern historian Dr. Albert Castel. The Civil War Papers of George B. McClellan is an ego trip worth taking and is ably edited by Ste-phen Sears – an historian who knows George B. McClellan’s better than he, himself would.


Catholic Culture

At St. Joseph in Hanover, Catholics Honor the Patroness of the Americas

Native dancing, flowers and an abundance of images of Our Lady of Guadalupe radiated

the spirituality of the Mexican people throughout St. Joseph Church in Ha-nover Dec. 12, as faithful gathered to celebrate the feast of the patroness of the Americas.

The parish’s annual celebration – of-fered fully in Spanish – drew a capac-ity crowd that evening. As Mass began, faithful processed with national flags and in native garb. And during the lit-urgy, they brought forward a plethora of statues and paintings of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as well as a variety of flow-ers, which were then blessed by Bishop Joseph P. McFadden.

On Dec. 9, 1531, Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, appeared to Juan Diego, a simple Aztec peasant, on a hill in the Tepeyac desert near Mex-ico City. She instructed him to build a church where they stood.

When Juan Diego told the local bishop of the apparition, the bishop asked for proof. Juan Diego returned to the hill, where Mary appeared again and in-structed him to collect the roses growing there, though it was winter. He gathered the flowers in his cloak, and when he presented them to the bishop, an imprint of the Blessed Mother appeared where the flowers had been.

The apparition and Mary’s messages to Juan Diego inspired the growth of the Christian faith in Mexico, South Ameri-ca and throughout the world.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is intimately associated with Mexico and forms part of the Mexican identity. She was de-clared patroness of the Americas by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESSAs Mass begins at St. Joseph Church in Hanover, women process to the altar with an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas

One of a multitude of images of Our Lady of Guadalupe graces the altar at St. Joseph Church in Hanover as Bishop Joseph P. McFadden celebrates the Eucharist.

Dressed in native garb, faithful perform

a native dance on the Feast of Our

Lady of Guadalupe.

Bishop Joseph P. McFadden exchanges a hand shake with a boy whom he allowed to wear his miter. At the conclusion of his homily, the bishop said, “I really encourage all of our young people here to consider a religious vocation.”


Catholic Culture

EMILY M. ALBERT, THE CATHOLIC WITNESSFather Keith Carroll, parochial vicar at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Harrisburg, displays his vast collection of Nativity scenes and Santa Clauses.


Papai Noel, Pere Noel, Weihnachtsmann, Kanakaloka, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas – no matter what you call him, Santa Claus brings a smile around the world.

Father Keith Carroll, parochial vicar at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Harrisburg, has a plethora of Papai Noel. He started collecting Santas and Nativity sets several years ago, around the time he began seminary studies, but more recently has made an effort to increase the collection.

“I’ve always enjoyed Christmas. It was big in my family and decorating always reminds me of being a kid,” Father Carroll shared.

In case Father’s Carroll’s words don’t quite fully express his fondness of Christmas, the two rooms filled with shelves of well over 100 Santas and Mrs. Clauses, over 50 Nativities of every size and medium, and numerous snow globes will certainly give you a good idea of his favorite holiday.

There are Santas of every theme imaginable. One of Father Car-roll’s favorite is his country-and-western Mr. and Mrs. Claus. He has always enjoyed country music and it reminds him of his visit to Nashville. But it isn’t just the Santa’s that vary; the beautiful Nativi-ties vary from one made of olive wood to a set given to him that was made in Poland, and his favorite, the Nativity he would set up as a child.

This will be an ongoing collection for Father Carroll, and one day when he is pastor of a parish, he hopes to be able to do the decorating as a parish so people can come and look at them and share the joy of the season.

“The most important part of Christmas is the birth of Christ, and truly for me, the more I give, I receive, not monetary, but the joy.”

The Spirit of Father Christmas

The City of Harrisburg kicked off its Christmas cel-ebrations with the annual lighting of the Christmas

tree Dec. 4 on the steps of the state Capitol.This year marks the first since the 1980s that the

Christmas tree has been placed on the steps outside of the Capitol. In his introductory welcome to those gathered for the ceremony, Governor Tom Corbett said the tree was placed there to share the “spirit of peace and friendship with the people of the city and the many visitors” who come to Harrisburg.

Bishop Joseph P. McFadden was in-vited to offer the opening and closing prayers at the ceremony. Students from surrounding Catholic schools came with their parents to share this special occasion.

After the tree was lit, the air was filled with foamy bubbles that looked like snow. It was a surprise and treat for all the youth and adults who gathered to watch lighting of the 22-foot Douglas fir.

Above: Simulated snow swirls around the state Capitol in Harrisburg Dec. 4 during a Christmas tree lighting cere-mony hosted by the governor. Left: Bishop Joseph P. McFadden greets Alexander Giorgione of St. Catherine Laboure School in Harrisburg near the Christmas tree on the steps of the Capitol. The bishop offered the invocation and benediction during the tree lighting ceremony.Right: Children frolic in simulated snow that added to a festive atmosphere at the lighting of the state Capitol Christmas tree.

EMILY M. ALBERT, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS


Catholic Sports Report

JEN REED, THE CATHOLIC WITNESSHigh school All-American Connor Maloney tallied 110 goals and a plethora of honors over his soccer career at Bishop McDevitt. The senior, who has verbal-ly committed to play soccer for Penn State, credits teammates and coaches for his on-field success.


Throughout his stellar career as a strik-er and midfielder for Bishop McDevitt’s boys’ soccer team, senior Connor Malo-ney has amassed quite a bit of goals (110 total) and an assortment of accolades, in-cluding All-State tags, recognition as the Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Year, and selection to academy teams and the Eastern Conference Starting 11.

And, just recently, his high school ca-reer reached its pinnacle with the an-nouncement that he’s been named a high school All-American by the National Soc-cer Coaches Association of America.

Humbled by the assembly of awards and achievements, Connor is quick to credit his McDevitt teammates and coaches – including his head coach and dad, Terence Maloney – for helping him achieve suc-cess.

“My teammates have been a really big part of my career and accomplishments. The success came because we were all do-ing our jobs on the field,” he said.

The honors and accolades have “defi-nitely been a lot to take in at once, but they’re certainly a great honor,” said the affable and humble student-athlete, who also played kicker for McDevitt’s foot-ball team. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and my coaches. My per-spective on this has always been to stay humble.”

Looking back on his stint on the Crusad-ers’ soccer team, Connor counts among his most memorable experiences the team’s division title win during his junior year, and its first playoff run – signs of the coaches’ efforts to build the program.

Away from the Crusaders, who played home games on City Island, Connor’s soccer experiences have taken him to play at PPL Park in Philadelphia – home to the Philadelphia Union soccer team – and to Alabama-Birmingham’s West Campus Field, where he played in the All-American Game Dec. 8. He played a different position than usual in that game, taking on the role of defensive midfielder, but still played a solid game.

Connor says he’s enjoyed the chal-lenge of playing against opponents at that level of caliber. “You don’t have much time on the ball, and it forces you to think faster and play smarter,” he said.

Connor’s collegiate career will find him on the roster of the Penn State Nit-tany Lions, while he pursues a major in sports management.

“The coaching staff and the atmo-sphere there drew me to the Penn State program,” he said, adding that he knows several of the current players from acad-emy and high school matches.

When Connor moves on from Bishop McDevitt this spring, he’ll leave behind an All-American legacy, along with his jersey number 7, which the school has retired.

It’s yet another honor for Connor, who hopes that his efforts will inspire others who will follow him.

“I consider my strengths to be good endurance, intensity and heart,” said Connor, whose goals include the U.S. national team and professional play. “I work hard to motivate other players to work even harder, and I hope I can in-spire others to give their best.”

McDevitt’s Soccer Star Shares Credit for All-American Selection

By Chris Heisey The Catholic Witness

Two seasons ago, the Crusaders of Bishop McDevitt trailed Erie Cathedral Prep by 18 points heading into the second half before rallying to stun the Ramblers with 21 unanswered points to win the PIAA State Class AAA semifinal.

This year, the Crusaders ran into the Ramblers again, and with the score tied 3-3 late in the first half, McDevitt suffered a crucial turnover with just over a minute left in the half which resulted in an Erie Cathedral Prep touchdown. And this time it was all Ramblers in the second as the Crusaders were unable to establish a consistent run game (36 yards on 23 carries). The Crusad-ers were outscored in last year’s final and this season’s semi by a 90-3 margin. Yet, no team has one more football games in Class AAA in the past three seasons than Bishop McDevitt.

Though the curtain closes on the sterling ca-reers of quarterback and wide receiver Alec Wer-ner and Brain Lemelle, going into the state’s re-cord books as the most successful tandem ever, the future is bright for the Crusaders as they return double digit starters surely ready to play on the new digs at the soon to be opened Bishop McDevitt High School just outside Harrisburg.

Crusaders Fall Short in

State Semifinal

CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESSFreshman wide receiver Kobay White hauls in a touchdown pass in McDevitt’s District final win against West York. The Crusaders return a talented group of underclassmen.


Local Church News

Seminarians Installed to the Ministry of Acolyte Two seminarians of the Diocese of Harrisburg were among eight to be installed

to the Ministry of Acolyte last month by Bishop William J. Waltersheid, Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh, in the Archabbey Basilica at Saint Vincent in Latrobe, Pa.

Donald H. Bender, Jr., of Lancaster, is the son of Donald H. Bender, Sr., and The-resa Bender of Ephrata. He is a 1989 graduate of Ephrata Senior High School and received a bachelor of science degree in education from Duquesne University, Pitts-burgh.

Ryan Michael Fischer is the son of Michael and Margaret Fischer of Lancaster. He graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School in 2003. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, in 2009.

Shown from left in the submitted photo are Saint Vincent Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B.; Bishop Waltersheid; Donald Bender and Ryan Fischer; and Very Rev. Timothy Whalen, Seminary Rector.

Knights of Columbus Council Provides Aid to Family

It was about a year ago when Brian Yohe first showed signs of a rare auto immune liver disease. Brian is the son of Sacred Heart parishioners Bob and Jo Ann Yohe in Spring Grove.

After several consultations with liver specialists, it was learned that Brian would need a partial liver transplant. Since that time, Brian has required frequent treat-ments to keep the disease, Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC),at bay until a donor is found. Hearing of the Yohe family’s distress, the membership of the Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus Council #14349, led by Grand Knight Chuck Becker, provided a grant of $2,000 to the family’s medical foundation to help defray the medical costs required to battle the disease.

The Yohe family has expressed their gratitude for the gift. They have also request-ed help from the community in locating a donor who could provide a portion of their liver for the required partial transplant.

The Knights of Columbus Sacred Heart Council #14349 was established approxi-mately five years ago. The Council has a membership of about 35 men, many of whom are parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish in Spring Grove. The council is active in providing charity along with opportunities for fellowship within their parish and town communities.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE PIZZO

The after-school program at San Bautista Juan Parish in Lancaster recently spread some cheer to the residents of St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia. Stu-dents, like Alyssa Rivera, shown in the photo, sang and danced, and presented resi-dents with care packages of toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and washcloths.

The names of the following deceased persons have been submitted by their parishes:

BERWICK – Immaculate Conception BVM: Joseph Kondrchek; St. Joseph: Paul Orlando.

BLOOMSBURG – St. Columba: A.J. “Al” Zale.

BONNEAUVILLE – St. Joseph the Worker: Thomas Gardner.

CARLISLE – St. Patrick: Mary Jane Vinette.

CHAMBERSBURG – Corpus Christi: Charlotte Brunner, Joseph Lucas, Sr.

COLUMBIA – Holy Trinity: Ruth Grab, Paul Stein.

DAUPHIN – St. Matthew: Theodore Higby.

ELIZABETHTOWN – St. Peter: Sandra Hawthorne.

GETTYSBURG – St. Francis Xavier: Mary Chudovan, Frances Lane.

HANOVER – St. Joseph: Richard McNulty; St. Vincent de Paul: Sharon Kerchner, Rosina Virginia Stuart, Frances Unger.

HARRISBURG – Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick: Francis Bacon, Elaine Witmer; St. Catherine Labouré: Donald R. Decker; St. Margaret Mary: Frances Gorman.

HERSHEY – St. Joan of Arc: Thomas Brinkach, Vincent Martin, Margaret Murrellwright, Eugene Sentiwany, Paul Woltman.

KULPMONT – Holy Angels: Catherine Nagar, Thomas Stankiewicz.

MCSHERRYSTOWN – Annunciation BVM: Thelma K. Staub, Martin Wheeler, Jr.

MECHANICSBURG – St. Joseph: Virginia Brennan, Barbara Hake, Marian Kuchma, Regina McGuffin, June Price, Joyce E. Zabinski; St. Katharine Drexel: Sandra Blust, Helen Stydahar.

MIDDLETOWN – Seven Sorrows BVM: Ada Smerick.

MILLERSVILLE – St. Philip the Apostle: Herbert Zankl.

MOUNT CARMEL – Divine Redeemer: Michael J. Augustine, Dorothy I. Clevenstine, Cecelia M. Dorkoski, Raymond A. Kuczewski, Maria Miszkiel, Geraldine A. Whipple.

NEW CUMBERLAND – St. Theresa: Pauline Nelson.

NEW FREEDOM – St. John the Baptist: Henry Hoffman, Francis “Frank” Owens.

ROHRERSTOWN – St. Leo the Great: Joseph Dyer, Eugene Jennings, Joan Weidinger, Eugene Weisser.

STEELTON – Prince of Peace: Eugene Kostelac.

WAYNESBORO – St. Andrew: Andrew Zeigler, Sr., John Zelinski.

YORK – St. Joseph: Serafina Lazarra, Marie “Sue” Maffett, Barbara Trouland.

Sister Mary S. BayerFranciscan Missionary of Mary Sister

Mary S. Bayer died Nov. 29 at the Saint Antoine Residence, North Smithfield, R.I. She was 92.

Born in York, she was a graduate of St. Mary’s elementary school and York Catholic High School, where she was the 1938 Class Valedictorian. She entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in Prov-idence, R.I., in 1939. She graduated from St. Anne’s School of Nursing as a regis-tered nurse in 1945 and from the Boston School of Occupational Therapy in 1950, as registered occupational therapist.

During her years of ministry from 1950-1986, Sister Mary was supervisor of the Occupational Therapy Depart-ment at Franciscan Children’s Hospital, then known as Kennedy Memorial Hos-pital. She was in charge of the Sisters’ Infirmary in North Providence, R.I., and Health Coordinator and registered nurse at Divine Providence Shelter in New York City and at Cardinal Hayes Home in Mill-brook, and then Administrator at Cardinal Hayes Home. She also worked in a drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program at Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, under the auspices of the Sisters of Christian Charity.

From 1986-2001, Sister Mary served as coordinator of the Franciscan Missionar-ies of Mary communities at Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Boston, Cardinal Hayes Home in Millbrook, and Queen of Peace Community in Providence. She also volunteered at a soup kitchen and day shelter for the homeless organized by the Franciscan Fathers in downtown Boston.

From 2001-2011, Sister Mary was a re-tired resident of the Assisted Living Com-munity in North Providence, R.I. She was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Mary, and by her sister, Margaret, and is survived by a number of first, second and third cousins. Condolences may be sent to David Schneider, 35 Garrison Road, Fal-mouth, MA, 02540.

Please pray for the following clergy who died in December and January during the past 25 years:

DecemberFather Stephen Rolko, 1993Msgr. Joseph Bradley, 1996Father John Aurentz, 1996Father Vitale Leonard Casey, 1997Father Joseph Blascovich, 1999Father Robert Kobularik, 1999Deacon Michael Lydon Sr., 1999Deacon Charles Rebuck, 2005Father Thomas Hemler, 2006Father Thomas M. McLernon, 2009Father Paul Aumen, C.PP.S., 2010Msgr. Leo Bierster, 2011.

JanuaryDeacon Eugene Skiffington, 1989Msgr. William Lyons, 1993Father Michael Homola, 2003Deacon Ralph Runkle, 2005 Father Wallace E. Sawdy, 2006Msgr. Francis Kumontis, 2009Father Thomas F. Langan, 2012.

San Juan Bautista Spreads Holiday Cheer


Young Church in Action


Three teachers from Corpus Christi School in Chambersburg will experi-ence the unique opportunity of riding on a reduced gravity flight through NASA Explorer Schools. But before this day arrives in April, fourth- and fifth-grade teachers Amanda Blough, Amy Fetteroff, and Kelly Hockensmith will perform several experiments in their classrooms with their students that will then be brought on the flight to be performed.

For Mrs. Blough, it was the first NASA workshop at Coco Beach Florida that she and Mrs. Fetteroff attended in 2007 that piqued her interest in space. And they have been making strides ever since to bring their knowledge to the students in the classroom.

“NASA is so much more than space shuttles, and I want to share that with our students,” explained Mrs. Blough. She and the other teachers went through several training steps and applications to be accepted into the NASA Explorer School program, and Corpus Christi is one of six schools in the nation and the only school in Pennsylvania to partici-pate in this program.Through the pro-gram, NASA shares educational videos, holds live web chats between astronauts and students, and provides teachers with guides to incorporate into les-son plans. The latest experiment that the students com-pleted was a projectile launcher.

The students began the experiment by discussing a hy-pothesis and used several of Newton’s Laws of Motion in their discussion. They then conducted experiments and tallied the information that will be shared in a live chat with a NASA representative.

The difference between the experiments being con-ducted at Corpus Christi and those that will be conducted in flight will be the amount of gravity. “As we stand here in the classroom, we are 1G,” explained Mrs. Fetteroff. “When we are on the flight and are free falling, we will be 2G.”

Mrs. Blough has found it interesting to watch the stu-dents think outside the box. They discuss together how the experiments will be different at 2G.

“One student asked if the equipment will be bolted down, or in a confined box while we are falling,” said Mrs. Blough, “and that is a really good question. We don’t even know what to expect when we get there.”

For the students, this project has been a hands-on expe-rience to learn difficult science vocabulary. In the class-room, it is evident that they have embraced the challeng-es their teachers have brought to them. They are excited to learn, and the experiments have opened dialogue and discussion among peers.

Fifth grade student Isabelle Kollar said that her former school never did anything like this, and she feels it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“It has piqued my interest in science and I like sharing it. I have a cousin who just went to college and they were learning about Newton’s Laws and I explained what I had already learned!” said Isabella excitedly.

“The students want to use the terms we are learning, they want to sound knowledgeable in front of the astro-nauts when we have our live chats,” said Mrs. Blough. She continued to talk about how parents have comment-ed that they never knew so much about NASA and how excited the kids get when they see something related to the classroom on TV.

Mrs. Blough hopes that there will be a possibility for the teachers to have a live chat with the students when they are at the Houston Johnson Space Center in April. “I want the students as involved as we are,” she said.

Corpus Christi Students Help Teachers Prepare for NASA Flight

EMILY M. ALBERT, THE CATHOLIC WITNESSMrs. Amanda Blough reviews experiment results with her classroom.

Mrs. Amy Fetteroff’s students mark the results for their second NASA experiment.

An autographed astronaut photograph hangs in Mrs. Amy Fetteroff’s classroom.


Compiled by Jen ReedSpiritual Offerings

The following liturgical services for the Croatian community will be celebrated by the Rev. Dubravko Turalijia in the Prince of Peace--Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Steelton, 717-985-1330: Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in the Croatian language will be celebrated at 12 a.m. Traditional Croatian Christmas carols with tamburica accom-paniment will be sung before and during the Mass. Blessing of homes on Dec. 26, 27, 28 and, if needed, 29, beginning at 11 a.m. each day. To schedule, call Ivo Fisic, 717-602-2691 or 717-652-3970.

St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Mifflintown will host its next monthly healing Mass on Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. Father William Weary will be the celebrant.

The next monthly pro-life Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Harrisburg Jan. 5 at 8 a.m. by Father Paul Fisher, pastor.

The Epiphany Italian Mass - Epifania del Nostro Signo-re - will be held Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. at Saint Joan of Arc Church in Hershey. Father Joshua Brommer will be the celebrant and homilist. The recently reformed Italian Mass Committee will provide a dinner buffet after Mass in the social hall. Please join us for traditional homemade Italian dishes and beverages. For more information, please contact Mariella Amato at 717-278-9420 or Maria DiSanto at 717-554-5698.

Caelorum at St. Joan of Arc Church in Hershey will be held Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. Come and experience the power of Eucharistic Adoration and praise & worship music. A reception will be held immediately afterward in the cafeteria. For more information, call 717-583-0240.

The Order of Malta will host a Sanctity of Life Mass at St. John Neumann Church in Lancaster Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. Father Bernardo Pistone, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Gettysburg, will be the principal celebrant and homilist. For information, visit www.orderofmaltalancaster.com.

Mass in the Polish language will be celebrated at St. Catherine Laboure Church in Harrisburg Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. by Father Walter Sempko. Confessions will be heard after Mass.

Education, Enrichment & Support Holy Spirit Health System offers a free support group

for those who have experienced miscarriage, pregnancy loss, or the death of a child. “Child of My Heart” meets on the second Monday of each month from 6-7:30 p.m. The support group is led by a nurse practitioner from Holy Spirit Hospital’s Behavioral Health department. For more information or to register to attend, please call 717-763-2279.

Harrisburg area singles’ group “WinDow’S” invites widowed, divorced and single men and women to join other singles each month at different restaurants, have a lovely meal, great conversation, and a chance to make new friends. Open to all ages and all faiths. Sponsored by Father Charles Persing, pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Harrisburg. Call Julia for more information, 717-652-3598.

Women’s Afternoon of Reflection will take place Jan. 5 at 1 p.m. at St Andrew the Apostle, Waynesboro, in the school hall. Topic is “The Sacred Romance: Jesus’ Jealous Love For My Heart.” Father Daniel Wilson, Legionaries of Christ, is the speaker. He will talk about developing the relationship of the Sacred Heart with us: Made in Love, Made for Love, Made to be Loved. Free will offering. Sponsored by the Council of Catholic Women. For more information, contact Regina Plum-mer, 717-765-9091 or [email protected].

Diocesan Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts – Ap-plications for Girl Scout adult recognitions are due by Jan. 7, 2013. The application form may be downloaded from the Diocese’s website (http://www.hbgdiocese.org/wp-content/up-loads/2012/06/ADULT-RELIGIOUS-AWARD-APPLICATION1.pdf) or contact the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at [email protected] or call 717-657-4804 x327. Girl Scout Leaders are invited to attend a meeting of the Diocesan Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire (DCC-GSCF) Jan. 12 from 10 a.m.-noon in the Cardinal Keeler Center, Harrisburg. For more information, contact the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at [email protected] or 717-657-4804 x327.

Adult education: Please join us at the Xavier Center, Table Rock, Road, Gettysburg, Jan. 9 for the beginning of a five-week series on the History of the Catholic Church. The series will be presented by Dr. Owen Phalen, a member of the faculty of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., where he teaches Church History. His classes will be held on consecutive Wednesday evenings, Jan. 9, 16, 23, and 30, and Feb. 6 from 7-8:30 p.m. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to advance your knowledge and understanding. All are welcome! Contact John Knowles, Adult Education Coordi-nator, with any questions at 717-677-4420.

Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill’s Pastoral Care Depart-ment will offer sessions for its Bereavement Program on Wednesdays Jan. 16-Feb. 20 from 1-2:30 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m. Interested persons should call Sister Margaret Wash-ington at 717-972-4255 or the Pastoral Care Secretary at 717-763-2118 for registration and further information.

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Berwick will host a Year of Faith program featuring one-hour lessons from Father Robert Barron. The Catholi-cism adult formation program is open to the community. The next session date, Jan. 17, is the second of a two-part ses-sion, “Amazed and Afraid – The Revelation of God Become Man.” Future sessions take place Feb. 21, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 25, Sept. 19, Oct. 17 and Nov. 24. Watch this section of The Catholic Witness for spe-cific topics and details on upcoming sessions. Or, for more information, contact the parish at 570-759-8113.

St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Mifflintown will host a free Life in the Spirit seminar. Classes will be held Saturday mornings, 9:30-10:30 a.m., from April 6-May 25. This is a series of classes in which people are taught how to have a stronger spiritual life and deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and use of the charismatic gifts. Sessions will be taught by Father Wil-liam Weary, pastor of St. Jude, and Katrina Molnar-Dietz, a parishioner at St. Bernard Parish, New Bloomfield. To register, e-mail [email protected] or call Katrina at 717-567-6036 (evenings only). Deadline is Saturday, Feb. 23.

Retreats & Pilgrimages A Men’s Discernment Retreat led by Father Raymond

LaVoie, will be offered Jan. 25-27 at St. Clement Mission House in Ephrata. The retreat is offered free of charge to men ages 18 and older. For information, or to register, con-tact the Diocesan Office of Vocations at 717-657-4804, ext. 282 or [email protected].

A retreat for parish youth ministry leaders and adults who work with youth will be offered at St. Patrick Church Activity Center in Carlisle Feb. 15 and 16. Jackie Francois, a singer/songwriter and worship leader from Orange County, Calif., will lead the retreat, “Reservoirs: Receiving God’s Love.” For many in ministry, we frequently don’t take the time to receive the love and mercy that God has in store for us. For others, who give all of the time, we don’t know how to receive ourselves. Join in this opportunity explore these questions and be filled with the love of Our Lord. Cost is $25 per person. For more information, contact Joe Goodman at [email protected] or 717-713-8772.

The Diocesan Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire invites Scouts from Brownies through Am-bassadors to attend a retreat Feb. 16 at Villa Sacred Heart in Danville. The retreat will include a session on St. Kateri Tekakwitha as well as activities for religious emblems and will conclude with Vigil Mass. For additional information, contact the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at [email protected] or 717-657-4804 x321.

Join Father Joseph Gotwalt as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus from March 9-19, 2013. The scriptures will come alive on this Year of Faith Pilgrimage to the Holy Land which includes: Daily Mass at holy sites, licensed Christian guide, accommodation in First Class hotels (five nights in Jerusalem, three nights in Tiberias, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee), breakfast and dinner daily, land transportation by deluxe motorcoach, roundtrip motorcoach transportation from Harrisburg to New York JFK, roundtrip airfare from JFK on nonstop flights with Delta Airlines, and more, for $3,150 per person/double occupancy. For complete details on this pilgrimage, please contact: George’s International Tours, (800) 566-7499, [email protected], or Karen Hurley, [email protected].

Join a Year of Faith pilgrimage to Marian Shrines in Portugal, Spain and France July 15-26, 2013. We have especially set extra days in Fatima and Lourdes for private prayer and devotions. Other sites to be visited on the pilgrim-age include Coimbra, Salamanca, Alba de Tormes, Avila, and Burgos. In Paris we will visit the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal at Rue de Bac, Shrine of Saint Vincent de Paul, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Basilica of Sacre Coeur. Roundtrip airfare and airline taxes/fuel surcharges, 10 nights accommo-dation in First Class/4 star hotels, breakfast and dinner daily, land transportation by private deluxe motorcoach, train tick-ets from Lourdes to Paris, all entrance fees, Daily Mass, and more for $3,789 per person/double occupancy. For complete details on this or other pilgrimages, please contact: George’s International Tours, (800) 566-7499, [email protected] or Karen Hurley, [email protected].

Year of Faith Pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi & Lourdes, October 7-17, 2013: Father John Bateman, of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish, Waynesboro, invites you to join him on an incredible Year of Faith Pilgrimage. Highlights of the journey include: the Roman Basilicas, the Sistine Chapel, Assisi, all the sights and events of Lourdes, France (including an opportunity to experience the Miraculous Baths), and a brief visit to Paris--including Rue de Bac Chapel (the Miraculous Medal), Notre Dame Cathedral, and the evening free to ex-plore Paris on your own. The trip includes: Round-trip airfare from Dulles; 4 full days in Rome; 1 day in Assisi; 2 ½ days in Lourdes; 1 day in Paris; all breakfasts & dinners (excluding beverages); 4-star hotels; English speaking guides; Daily private Mass; taxes & fuel charges (subject to increase 30-days prior due to economic circumstances); tips and entry fees. Total cost is approximately $3,959 per person, double occupancy. For information or a brochure and/or registration form, please email: [email protected].

Join Father Thomas Rozman and the Cathedral Parish of Saint Patrick in Harrisburg for a Year of Faith Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi Oct. 8-17, 2013. We will enter into the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Claire, staying in As-sisi for three nights. There will be a full day in Florence. Our time in Rome will include Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica, visits to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Saint Mary Major, Saint John Lateran, San Callisto Catacombs, and much more. We hope to attend a Papal Audience and experience the Scavi Tour, subject to avail-ability. Roundtrip airfare and airline taxes/fuel surcharges,8 nights accommodation in First Class/4 star hotels, breakfast daily, 6 dinners, land transportation by private deluxe motor-coach, all entrance fees, Daily Mass, and more for $3,557 per person/double occupancy. For complete details, please contact Karen Hurley at [email protected] or George’s International Tours at (800) 566-7499.

Rome, Assisi and Florence: Three days in Assisi and 5 days in Rome on a 10-day pilgrimage with George’s International Tours. Coordinated by Karen Hurley; Chaplain – Father Kenneth Smith. Contact Father Smith at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Abbottstown, at 717-259-0611. This pilgrimage will be in November 2013. Cost is $3,600. Call to place your name(s) on the list. An informational meeting will be held in March. Other pilgrimages: St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg; Sacred Heart Basilica, Conewago; Basilica of the Assumption, Baltimore; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine and Mt. St. Mary’s, Emmitsburg, Md.

Events & Fund-Raisers Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Parish in York, along with its Iris Dramatic & Social Club, is presenting a program of Advent Music and Vespers on the 4th Sunday of Advent, Dec. 23 at 4 p.m. in the church. The public is invited and there is no admission charge. Light refreshments will be served in the parish social hall immedi-ately following the program. Please join us for this prayerful preparation for the birth of our Savior.

St. Francis Xavier Parish in Gettysburg will host its First Friday Dinner Jan. 4 from 5-7 p.m. at Xavier Center on Table Rock Road, Gettysburg. By popular demand, January menu will feature boneless pork roast, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, gravy, string beans, corn, macaroni and cheese, and a children’s menu along with beverages and dessert. Selections vary each month. Adults $8, senior citi-zens and high school students $6, children K-8 $4, children under 5 free. Take-outs available. For more info call 717-334-4048.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Lancaster is hosting the 27th Annual Twelfth Night Concert of Catholic Choirs on Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. Christmastide music from Lancaster area Catholic church choirs will be featured. This event is free and open to the public with a reception in the gym afterward. Free parking is available across from the church at the Central Parking Garage. For more information, please contact Stephanie Sands, Music Director, at 717-392-3668.

Delone Catholic High School in McSherrystown has announced the dates for its placement testing for the fresh-men entering in the 2013-14 school year. All incoming ninth graders must take the test on one of the following dates: Jan. 12, March 9 or April 13 at Delone Catholic High School. Test-ing will be conducted from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. each day. There is no cost to take the exam. The test, based on the ACT exams, covers English, science and math. Students need to bring two #2 pencils, a pen, a calculator and a lunch. All eighth graders in the Adams Deanery of the Diocese of Harrisburg will take the test in their schools. Any eighth grader who attends a Catholic school outside the deanery, a public school, home school or other school needs to make arrangements to take the test. For more information, or to register for a testing date, contact Delone Catholic Vice Principal/Director of Stud-ies Sister Maria Jude, CSJ, at 717-637-5969, ext. 217, or [email protected].

Delone Catholic High School in McSherrystown will be open to prospective families, alumni, friends and the community for open school tours led by student ambassadors Jan. 17 from 1-4 p.m. Anyone interested in learning more about Delone Catholic is welcome to visit and ask questions. Enter the school from the lobby doors on South Street where you will be greeted by our students.

Parish, School & Organization News

Harrisburg Catholic Elementary School has started a 20 Week Club. $50 prizes will be awarded each week between Dec. 21 and May 3, and $100 prizes will be awarded on special weeks: Christmas, New Years, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, and the final week. Winning tickets are re-entered for future drawings. The Grand Prizes -- 1st: $500; 2nd: $300; 3rd: $200; 4th: $100; and 5th-9th: $50 -- are drawn at the Harrisburg Catholic School Gala on April 20 at the Harrisburg Country Club. You do not need to be present to win. Tickets are $20 a piece and are available at both school campuses. Call 717-232-2551 (Holy Family Campus) or 717-234-3797 (Cathedral Campus).

Liturgy of the Hours: Deacon Tom Aumen from St. Joseph Parish in Hanover is in need of new or used cop-ies of the Liturgy of the Hours (the Divine Office), either the 1-volume or 4-volume set, to be used in the parish for morning and/or evening prayers. If you have any unused or seldom-used LOH volumes and would like to donate them to the parish, please contact Deacon Aumen at 717-632-1794.


Faith and Life

The Year of Faith announced by Pope Benedict XVI began on October 11, and concludes on November 24, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI referred to this Year of Faith as “…a summons to an authentic and re-newed conversion to the Lord, the one Sav-ior of the world” (Porta Fidei 6) and pro-claimed, “To rediscover the content of the faith that is professed, celebrated, lived and prayed, and to reflect on the act of faith, is a task that every believer must make his own, especially in the course of this year” (Porta Fidei 9).

Throughout this yearlong observance, the Diocesan Institute for Catechetical and Pastoral Formation is offering a variety of faith formation opportunities to help you renew your relationship with Jesus Christ and deepen your Catholic Faith. Included are sessions on the content of the Apostles’ Creed, the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

For more information on how the Year of Faith is being celebrated throughout the Diocese of Harrisburg, visit the “Year of Faith” webpage on the diocesan website at www.hbgdiocese.org.

Online registration and payment are now available. You can register and pay online for Diocesan Institute courses and workshops. To access an online registration form and a complete course listing for the current schedule of offerings, click on the icon at www.hbgdiocese.org.

Learn from home. Take advantage of Diocesan Institute offerings without leav-ing the comforts of home! Through Ellu-minate Live, you can participate in courses and workshops offered at the Cardinal Kee-ler Center via webinar. You can either join these webinars as they happen (real-time), or view recordings of the webinars at a time that is more convenient for you. Offerings

Diocesan Institute Winter/Spring 2013 Courses

JEN REED, THE CATHOLIC WITNESSLongtime volunteers of St. Anne’s annual Christmas day dinner – Ted Dzubin-ski, Frank Nardo and Keith Kirchner – gather in the kitchen to discuss plans for this year’s meal. Last year, St. Anne’s served some 800 meals to people in Lancaster.


There’s a Christmas tradition at St. Anne Parish in Lancaster that furthers Christ’s work of welcoming the stranger and feeding the hungry.

For 22 years, the downtown parish has been serving traditional Christmas din-ners on the day of the Lord’s birth. The meals are free to all who come to St. Anne’s gym, which is transformed into a great dining room where hot food is served from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Year after year, folks line up at the door as early as 9:30 a.m. Year after year, they’re greeted by a host of faithful vol-unteers who happily give up their Christ-mas Eve or Christmas Day to spread tid-ings of joy to those who can use some extra cheer.

“The people are just so grateful for what we’re able to provide them,” said Keith Kirchner, who facilitates the pro-gram and coordinates donations for it.

On Christmas Day, he gives gift cards to the people as they leave the gym after dinner. The folks who eat there also re-ceive other gifts, such as fruit or pastries, as well as a visit from Santa Claus and musical entertainment.

“You can’t not feel good about this ef-fort,” Mr. Kirchner said.

Along with many of the 70-80 volun-teers who make the project a reality, Mr. Kirchner has been serving at the dinner for 20 years.

The annual Christmas event started as a Thanksgiving dinner in the 1970s, when the parish endeavored to serve free meals on that day. It ran annually for 20 years, but as other local groups began to serve Thanksgiving dinners, St. Anne’s elected to focus its efforts on Christmas Day.

Serving Christmas Dinners to Those in Need is Holiday Tradition at St. Anne’s

that are available via webinar are clearly marked on the schedule of courses. For more information, contact Ryan Bolster at 717-657-4804, ext. 225, or [email protected].

INTRODUCTORY COURSES

Introduction to Scripture7-9 p.m. Feb. 5, 12, 26, March 5, 19Cardinal Keeler Center, HarrisburgDeacon Gerald Robinson*Also available via webinar

Introduction to the Sacraments6:30-9 p.m. April 4, 11, 18, 25Cardinal Keeler Center, HarrisburgFather Paul Clark*Also available via webinar

Introduction to Morality7-9 p.m. Feb. 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20Cardinal Keeler Center, HarrisburgFather Paul Fisher*Also available via webinar

6:30-9 p.m. Feb. 25, March 4, 11, 18St. Aloysius, LittlestownMr. Ryan Bolster

6:30-9 p.m. March 4, 11, 18, 25St. Columba, BloomsburgMr. Joseph Mullen(To register, contact Mr. Mullen at 570-784-0801, ext. 4)

Teaching Methodology, Part I9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 2St. Joseph, HanoverMrs. Stacey White

Teaching Methodology, Part II9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 9St. Joseph, HanoverMrs. Stacey White

Introduction to Prayer7-9 p.m. April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29Cardinal Keeler Center, HarrisburgMr. James Gontis*Also available via webinar

ADVANCED CERTIFICATION COURSES/COURSES OF SPECIALIZATION

Christology6:30-9p.m. Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14Cardinal Keeler Center, HarrisburgMr. Ryan Bolster*Also available via webinar

Catechetical Documents of theChurch7-9 p.m. April 9, 10, 11, 16, 17Cardinal Keeler Center, HarrisburgMr. James Gontis

Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States6:30-9 p.m. April 15, 22, 29Cardinal Keeler Center, HarrisburgMr. Ryan Bolster

ELECTIVES

Vatican II at Age 506:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 19, 26, March 5Cardinal Keeler Center, HarrisburgMsgr. Thomas Kujovsky*Also available via webinar

The Articles of Faith in the Year of Faith7-9 p.m. March 12 and 13Cardinal Keeler Center, HarrisburgMr. James Gontis*Also available via webinar

Evangelization and the New Media6:30-9 p.m. April 8 and 10Sister Geralyn Schmidt, SCC*Only available via webinarThe Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Catechist and the Catholic School Teacher’s Best Friend7-9 p.m. Jan. 8, 15, 29, Feb. 5, 12St. Catherine Laboure, HarrisburgMr. James Gontis(To register, contact Fatima Roberge at 717-564-1321)The Catechism of the Catholic Church at Age 207-9 p.m. April 1 and 3Cardinal Keeler Center, HarrisburgMr. Ryan Bolster*Also available via webinarA Catechetical Explanation of the 15 Promises of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Those Devoted to the Rosary7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 31St. Margaret Mary, HarrisburgMr. James Gontis(To register, contact Bonnie Finnerty at 717-233-3062)Survey of the 16 Documents of Vatican II to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council7-9 p.m. Feb. 28, March 14, 20, 21Sacred Heart of Jesus, CornwallMr. James Gontis(To register, contact Becky Broderic at 717-273-2160 or [email protected])

Prayer: The Gasoline for our Spiritual Engines3-5 p.m. March 4Resurrection School, LancasterMr. James Gontis(To register, contact Brenda Weaver at 717-392-3083)

The dinner is just one among many of the parish’s outreach efforts. Daily, St. Anne’s brown-bag lunch program feeds 150 people who come to the parish door.

In its first year, the parish served 300 meals, a number that continues to increase, noted Frank Nardo, who coordinates the cooking. He’s been volunteering at the din-ner – especially with Christmas Eve prepa-rations – for 20 years.

Last Christmas, St. Anne’s provided 800 meals for the hungry – including those who dined in the gym, those who took meals home, and those to whom meals were de-livered, noted Ted Dzubinski, committee chairperson.

With an assembly of drivers, meals can easily be delivered to the homebound, and those unable to travel to St. Anne’s can be offered transportation.

Volunteers fill all roles associated with the dinner, as hostesses, servers, cooks, drivers and set-up and clean-up crews.

Financial support and donations of food come from local businesses and from indi-viduals who wish to lend a hand. For exam-ple, Dave Stoltzfus of Clark Equipment as-sists with prep work and equipment needs, and the turkeys for the 800 meals are pre-pared by Ray Hottenstein, chef at the Olde Greenfield Inn in Lancaster.

Mr. Hottenstein connected with St. Anne’s Christmas dinner program several years ago when the parish was seeking a place to cook the turkeys during a time of a kitchen reno-vation. The staff at the Olde Greenfield Inn stepped in to help, and have been preparing the turkeys ever since then.

“Our focus all along has been to give the people as high quality a meal as possible,” Mr. Nardo said. “This effort wouldn’t be possible without the support of local busi-nesses and individuals.”

St. Anne, St. John Neumann and St. Leo

the Great parishes in Lancaster assist with the program by providing the gift cards that are distributed at the end of the meal.

Prep work for the Christmas dinner gets underway in September, as Mr. Kirchner begins seeking donations and Mr. Dzubin-ski starts making a list of volunteers to help before, during and after the event.

“It is such a parish-wide and community-wide effort,” Mr. Nardo remarked. “I per-sonally appreciate everything that every-body does, from the servers, to the trash guy, to the dish washer. They’re all invaluable.”

“Year-in and year-out, our volunteers keep coming back,” Mr. Kirchner pointed out. For many families, it’s a Christmas Day

tradition of service.“My son just turned 26, and he’s been

part of this effort since he was five or six years old,” Mr. Kirchner said. “He still goes with me on Christmas Eve to pick up some of the donations. He said to me, ‘I don’t know what it would be like on Christmas Eve if we didn’t do this.’ It’s embedded in us. It’s just part of what we do.”

(Monetary donations to help support St. Anne’s Christmas dinner can be mailed to the parish at 929 North Duke Street, Lan-caster PA, 17602.)


Diocese of Harrisburg Financial Report

Consistent with its policy of providing financial disclosure, the Diocese of Har-risburg is once again presenting the financial statements of its Central Offices and Ministries. The financial statements presented here for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and were audited by the independent certified public accounting firm McKonly and Asbury, LLP. These financial reports do not include the financial status of diocesan parishes and schools or Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA. Inc. Each of these entities maintains its own set of fiscal records and reports individually to its own particular constituencies.

The complete financial reports for the diocese, together with the independent auditor’s report and notes to the financial statements, are available from Harris-burg Catholic Administrative Services, Inc. (HCAS) upon request.

Dear Friends in Christ,I am pleased to share with you the audited Diocesan Financial Report for

the fiscal year which ended June 30, 2012. This report reflects your ongoing dedication to sustaining the mission of the Diocese of Harrisburg: proclaim-ing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As members of the Church, the Lord has entrusted to each of us a share in His divine life and His mission. With a careful examination, you will see in this audit the many ways in which we continue to proclaim the gospel throughout the fifteen counties which make up our Diocese. The time, talent, and treasure of so many assist us in these pastoral, educational, and charitable causes. With God’s help, our efforts are bearing great fruit.

As your Bishop, I am grateful for your generous and consistent support of your parish, the Lenten Appeal, the Pentecost Collection, and other special appeals throughout the year that directly assist the ministries of the Church especially during these difficult economic times. Because of your response, which is a clear sign of your faithfulness to the Church’s mission, we are able to accomplish more successfully these many good works.

May God bless you and your loved ones with His gifts of love and peace. Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Joseph P. McFadden Bishop of Harrisburg

The accompanying notes are an integralpart of these financial statements.

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DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATIVE ENTITIES OFTHE DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2011

2012 2011

Cash and cash equivalents 2,583,314$ 1,921,863$ Accounts receivable 123,300 282,783 Accrued interest receivable 433,710 591,876 Inventory 347,139 379,114 Prepaid expenses 137,305 788,565 Investments 97,449,458 118,584,149 Due from other entities 927,028 445,662 Funds held in trust by others 376,405 455,662

102,377,659 123,449,674

Notes and loans receivable 31,645,999 30,257,431 Less allowance for doubtful loans (5,183,567) (4,429,787)

Notes and loans receivable, net 26,462,432 25,827,644

Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation 21,833,675 21,533,250

Total assets 150,673,766$ 170,810,568$

Accounts payable and accrued expenses 2,306,141$ 1,713,613$ Deferred revenue 6,707,080 6,630,257

9,013,221 8,343,870 Deposits payable

Parishes 40,499,326 40,996,567 Schools 9,422,092 9,175,811 Other sources 8,700,361 27,648,886

Total deposits payable 58,621,779 77,821,264

Perpetual care 3,393,284 3,367,165 Accrued priests' pension and postretirement benefits 22,522,039 17,319,245 Estimated liability for self-insurance 4,464,400 3,996,859 Funds held in custody for others 1,609,242 1,968,705 Liability for future memorial purchases 274,920 247,464 Annuities payable on behalf of others 2,073,885 2,037,496

Total liabilities 101,972,770 115,102,068

Net assetsUnrestricted

Undesignated (4,518,738) 2,547,401 Designated 47,633,691 47,440,796

Total unrestricted 43,114,953 49,988,197

Temporarily restricted 392,392 583,825 Permanently restricted 5,193,651 5,136,478

Total net assets 48,700,996 55,708,500

Total liabilities and net assets 150,673,766$ 170,810,568$

ASSETS

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

(continued)

3


STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES


2012 2011

Changes in unrestricted net assetsRevenues and gainsIntradiocesan billings, primarily self-insurance premiums 13,936,358$ 13,428,381$ Lenten Appeal, contributions and bequests 7,186,261 7,270,520 Interest and dividends 4,439,977 5,410,796 Cemetery sales 1,454,519 1,613,118 Program service fees 1,425,203 900,603 Rental income 225,761 239,313 Other 271,391 504,283

Total unrestricted revenues and gains 28,939,470 29,367,014

Net assets released from restrictionsExpiration of restrictions 805,453 722,720

Total unrestricted revenues, gains, and other support 29,744,923 30,089,734

Expenses and lossesSupporting servicesGeneral secretariat 708,431 733,787 TemporalitiesAdministrative supportPlant operation 1,453,563 1,496,300 Other administrative support 2,596,093 2,569,823 Fund raising 247,619 242,309 Diocesan support for parishes and schools 719,910 701,094 Diocesan support for Catholic Charities 921,081 925,101 Cemetery operations 1,538,800 1,529,025 Insurance 13,785,280 13,166,736

ProgramsEducation 788,050 858,679 Clergy and religious life 1,544,593 1,412,073 Catholic life and evangelization 1,938,758 1,309,805 Canonical services 565,779 584,487 Communications 860,861 848,688 FOCUS 406,711 304,554 Interest - deposits payable 1,144,750 1,414,958 Other 790,278 1,462,623

Total expenses and losses 30,010,557 29,560,042


4


STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES (Cont'd)


2012 2,011

Change in unrestricted net assets, before other changes (265,634) 529,692 Other changesNet gains (losses) on investments (374,660) 4,034,189 Depreciation and amortization (1,030,156) (1,002,390) Change in obligations for priests' pension and postretirement benefits (5,202,794) 4,159,049

Change in unrestricted net assets (6,873,244) 7,720,540

Changes in temporarily restricted net assetsContributions 655,879 683,265Net gains (losses) on investments (41,859) 4,513 Net assets released from restrictions (805,453) (722,720)

Change in temporarily restricted net assets (191,433) (34,942)

Changes in permanently restricted net assetsContributions 60,595 40,264Net gains (losses) on investments (3,422) 626,143

Change in permanently restricted net assets 57,173 666,407

Change in net assets (7,007,504) 8,352,005

Net assets, beginning of year 55,708,500 47,356,495

Net assets, end of year 48,700,996$ 55,708,500


5


STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


2012 2011

Cash flows from operating activitiesChange in net assets (7,007,504)$ 8,352,005$ Adjustments to reconcile change in net assets to net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activitiesDepreciation and amortization 1,030,156 1,002,390 Net (gains) losses on investments 419,941 (4,664,845) Gain on disposal of property and equipment (9,435) (270,201) Allowance for doubtful accounts 753,780 1,920,835 (Increase) decrease inAccounts receivable 159,483 (34,640) Accrued interest receivable 158,166 188,497 Inventory 31,975 40,303 Prepaid expenses 651,260 (676,553) Due from other entities (481,366) 106,322

Increase (decrease) inAccounts payable and accrued expenses 592,528 (239,380) Deferred revenue 76,823 536,054 Perpetual care 26,119 30,508 Accrued priests' pension and postretirement benefits 5,202,794 (4,159,049) Estimated liability for self-insurance 467,541 (313,322) Funds held in custody for others (359,463) 317,543 Liability for future memorial purchases 27,456 7,495 Annuities payable on behalf of others 36,389 (83,755)

Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activities 1,776,643 2,060,207

Cash flows from investing activitiesPurchase of property and equipment (1,330,581) (1,019,837) Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 9,435 457,260 Issuance of notes and loans receivable (12,371,931) (7,624,574) Proceeds from payments on notes and loans receivable 10,983,363 4,753,612 Proceeds from sale or maturity of investments 25,127,205 86,824,510 Purchase and reinvestment of investments (4,333,198) (68,355,038)

Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) investing activities 18,084,293 15,035,933

Cash flows from financing activitiesIncrease (decrease) in deposits payable (19,199,485) (17,733,125)

Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) financing activities (19,199,485) (17,733,125)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 661,451 (636,985)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 1,921,863 2,558,848

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year 2,583,314$ 1,921,863$


Faith and Life

Oscar Banda, Anthony Cam-pos, Diego Aguilar, Casey

Sheridan and Chelsea McFalls will forever remain in the hearts of their families and friends.

That sentiment is etched into a headstone at the site of the car ac-cident that took the lives of the five New Oxford High School students on Dec. 5, 2011. Loved ones, friends and passersby continue to leave me-mentos at the memorial – an abun-dance of candles, stuffed animals, photographs and flowers tucked along the edge of a car lot at the in-tersection of Route 94 and 700 Road in Adams County.

On the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, mourners gathered for a night of remembrance at nearby Cross Keys Community Park to re-

member the five friends: Oscar, 17; Anthony, 16; Diego, 16; Casey, 16; and Chelsea, 15.

Rosaries, prayer cards and images of Our Lady of Guadalupe could be found at the memorial site in the days surrounding the anniversary, pointing to the students’ Catholic faith. The boys were members of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Gettysburg; Casey a member of St. Joseph Par-ish in Hanover; and Chelsea a mem-ber of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in New Oxford.

“I’ve heard that they were all great kids,” a young man said as he visited the memorial on a soggy and dreary Friday in December. “It’s good that people can remember them together at this memorial.”

‘Always in Our Hearts’

JEN REED, THE CATHOLIC WITNESSA Christmas ornament of an angel hangs from an artificial flower near the site of a car accident in which five New Oxford High School students were killed last December.

Mementos surround a headstone remembering the lives of Diego Aguilar, Oscar Banda, Anthony Campos, Chelsea McFalls and Casey Sheridan, Catholic teens who died in a car accident in New Oxford a year ago.

By Carol Glatz and Francis X. RoccaCatholic News Service

The Nativity story, like the whole story of Christ, is not merely an event in the past, but has unfolding sig-nificance for people today, with implications for such issues as the limits of political power and the purpose of human freedom, Pope Benedict writes in his third and final volume on the life and teachings of Jesus.

“Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives” is only 132 pages long, yet it includes wide-ranging reflections on such matters as the significance of the Virgin Birth and the distinctive views of nature in ancient pagan and Judeo-Christian cultures.

In the book, Pope Benedict examines Jesus’ birth and childhood as recounted in the Gospels of Sts. Matthew and Luke. His interpretation of the biblical texts refers frequently to the work of other scholars and draws on a variety of academic fields, including linguistics, politi-cal science, art history and the history of science.

The book’s publication completes the three-volume “Jesus of Nazareth” series, which also includes “From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration” (2007) and “Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection” (2011).

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said that the three books are the “fruit of a long inner journey” by Joseph Ratzinger, whose personal views they represent. While much of what the pope says is accepted Catholic dogma, the texts themselves are not part of the Church’s Magisterium and their arguments are free to be disputed, Father Lombardi said.

In his new book, the pope argues that Matthew and Luke, in their Gospel accounts, set out to “write history, real history that had actually happened, admittedly in-terpreted and understood in the context of the word of God.”

The pope calls the virgin birth and the resurrection “cornerstones” of Christian faith, since they show God

acting directly and decisively in the material world.“These two moments are a scandal to the modern

spirit,” which expects and allows God to act only in ideas, thoughts and the spiritual world, not the material, he writes. Yet it is not illogical or irrational to suppose that God possesses creative powers and power over mat-ter, otherwise “then he is simply not God.”

The pope enriches the Gospel accounts with personal reflections as well as questions and challenges for his readers.

For example, considering the angel’s appearance to the shepherds, who then “went with haste” to meet the child Savior, the pope asked “How many Christians make haste today, where the things of God are con-cerned?”

A key topic in the book is the role of human freedom in God’s divine plan for humanity.

“The only way [God] can redeem man, who was cre-ated free, is by means of a free ‘yes’ to his will,” the pope writes. It is precisely “the moment of free, humble yet magnanimous obedience,” such as Mary and Joseph showed when listening to God, “in which the loftiest choice of human freedom is made.”

Jesus, too, in his human freedom, understood he was bound to obedience to his heavenly father, even at the cost of his earthly life.

The missing 12-year-old, rediscovered by an anxious Mary and Joseph in the Temple, was not there “as a reb-el against his parents, but precisely as an obedient [son], acting out the same obedience that leads to the cross and the resurrection,” the pope writes.

Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection is a story filled with contradiction, paradox and mystery, the pope writes, and “remains a sign of contradiction today.”

“What proves Jesus to be the true sign of God is he takes upon himself the contradiction of God,” Pope Benedict writes, “he draws it to himself all the way to the contradiction of the cross.”

CNS/PAUL HARINGPope Benedict XVI prays in front of the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square after leading vespers in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Dec. 31 of last year.

Nativity Story’s Significance Continues to Unfold Today, Pope Writes in Latest Book