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News
& Notes
By
Bishop John M. D'Arcy
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After busy weeks, looking forward to vacation time on the back porch
From San Antonio to Boston
I flew from the severe heat in San Antonio, Texas, to Boston. I arrived at St. Monica’s Church, hard by the Atlantic Ocean. Greeted by some friends of Msgr. Tom McDonnell, I found it very moving. The next day, I celebrated the Rite of Christian Burial before a full church of friends. Tom would have been just as pleased by the presence of waitresses from the local restaurant as he was about the mayor of the city, the former ambassador of the Vatican, and the president of the State Senate, various office holders and members of the press. So many priests, religious sisters, his friends of a lifetime.
Painful, but also very beautiful. They say a priest has no family. Do not believe it. How fitting that we buried him one day after beginning the Year for Priests, started by Pope Benedict XVI.
A church of contrasts
Back late Saturday, to prepare for St. Aloysius, Yoder.
This magnificent parish, small in size, but large in heart, where we celebrated the 150th anniversary of this parish. Father Dominique Carboneau — a gifted pastor, who among other things, has taught art in the school, and is an outstanding carpenter, has worked with the people for the restoration of this beautiful country church. A brand new altar built by Dave Meyer, a parishioner. The church has been painted by parishioners and fully restored. It was a joy to celebrate Mass there. Among those concelebrating was Father Jason Freiburger — a son of the parish, and Msgr. Bill Lester, who served there as pastor for awhile, as he has served in so many parishes throughout the diocese. Msgr. Bill is now on dialysis, which occupies him three days a week, but was in good form on Sunday.
We consecrated the new altar with the singing of the Litany of Saints, and afterwards, a splendid dinner, as only a country parish can do.
The parish had just lost a splendid senior parishioner, Connor Loesch. I had a visit with his wife, Ann, who is the director of religious education, and spoke about her great loss. She and Connor are the parents of seven, including Carl Loesch — the outstanding principal of Marian High School.
Altogether, a splendid day at Yoder. A contrast to a painful day in South Boston, but it shows the continuing vitality, as well as the diversity, of the church.
Congratulations to Father Dominique, who along with being a master carpenter is a scholar of the noted theologian, Bernard Lonergan, SJ.
Speaking of smaller parishes
On the feast of Corpus Christi, I was privileged to join Father Pius N. Ilechukwu for the eucharistic procession. It is splendid that the procession of the holy Eucharist on the feast of Corpus Christi is growing in our parishes. I carried the monstrance around the small town and many people followed. As is required, Benediction was given at three outside altars, and then we returned to the old country church. After this, I celebrated the 11 a.m. Mass, and joined the people for lunch. A splendid day at St. Patrick’s with a priest from a far away place, who is strengthening the parish with his presence, his fine homilies and his sense of humor.
Catechesis and prayer
Last fall, we started a program in Fort Wayne for the adult instruction of our Hispanic Catholics. It took place at our Noll Center, and on Saturday afternoon, I celebrated Mass in Spanish for those who completed the certificate program. A tip of the hat to Jim Tighe, co-director of the Office of Catechesis and his assistant, Christina Emilian, for shepherding this group through this course. All instructions were given in Spanish, and were based on the Spanish translation of the Catechism for Adults, put together by the American bishops.
The continued instruction of Hispanic Catholics and helping to form them into missionaries and disciples is a great obligation for the future.
A retreat for candidates
What a joy to take part in a retreat for perspective candidates for the priesthood, and how wonderful that this was put together entirely by our seminarians. Matt Coonan, a graduate of Bishop Dwenger, preparing for third theology at the Josephinum Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, was the director. Several of our seminarians were present. There were 10 perspective candidates; that is, young men, all high school graduates, who are considering the seminary. A very impressive group. Among those speaking to them along with Matt, were Father Jason Freiburger, of St. Vincent, Fort Wayne, and Deacon Jake Runyon, of St. Matthew co-Cathedral Parish, South Bend. Jake is scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood on Oct. 31, 2009, along with Deacon Fernando Jimenez. He presented a talk on holiness, as seen in the Gentiles to the Romans. I celebrated Mass on Sunday morning, and then gave a conference based on the call of the apostles in the New Testament. Two of the young men were students at Notre Dame; some were from Purdue and the University of Saint Francis, altogether an impressive group. In the discussion, I asked what had touched them most in the retreat. One young man, a Notre Dame student, said it was Matt Coonan’s talk based on the document “Gaudium et Spes,” that you only find yourself by making a gift of yourself to another. This, as you know, is a great theme of Pope John Paul II. How wonderful that this theme was grasped as central to those considering a priestly vocation.
Where did these names come from? I wrote to all the priests in the diocese, and they collaborated by sending me many names, and then each one received a full invitation. Please keep praying that the good Lord will send us young men of good quality to consider this demanding, but beautiful life.
Over to St. Pius X, Granger, then for a cookout with our priests in the South Bend-Elkhart area, to compliment one held earlier in Fort Wayne. Off then, to Fort Wayne to prepare for vacation at home. By the way, everybody’s been telling me for many years that I should have a driver. With the close collaboration of my assistant, Maureen, this is developing. Chris Lapp, a Dwenger graduate and former seminarian, has been driving me on the longer trips between our two cities, and sometimes the seminarians have done this as well. It does make it a little easier. I will be off on Wednesday, July 1, to my hometown of Brighton, Mass. I will miss lunch with Msgr. Tom McDonnell, and his joyful analysis of church and world; but I hope I can find his grave and pray there. Also, prayer at the grave of my dear parents and at the grave of my dear sister, Mary, in New Hampshire, and Mass in her parish for her husband and children, I hope. A visit to Falmouth and Cape Cod, and Mass at St. Patrick Church for my sister, Joan, and her family. Also some prayer at the beautiful St. Mary’s Chapel on the grounds of Boston College.
To Hull on the Atlantic Ocean for a day walking the beach with priest classmates and a special fish dinner prepared by Msgr. Pete Martocchio.
Also some nights at Fenway Park for the first-place Red Sox.
Most of all, some time on the back porch of the home purchased by my dear father and mother in 1944 for $7,500. I think they are in the house with me there when I am home, and they are.
Three blessed weeks. I shall be praying for you all; and as always, look forward to coming back.
See you then. |
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